Persian Rugs - educate me

[Riley Blue]

I know them as Persian rugs but know nothing further about them. O/H has decided she'd like one for our lounge and as she has a significant birthday in a couple of months I took it as a hint.

A quick measurement suggests 310 x180cm and I'd like one that's 'authentic' but a quick on-line search produces some outrageous (to me) prices.

Is £700-800 a reasonable budget? I'm in north Derbyshire but happy to travel; where can I go for some genuine advice without being ripped off?

[okgo]

John Lewis have quite a few. We got one from ‘Gooch’ on JL a few years back for a living room, seems to withstand frequent use and cleaning.

[MrJuice]

My family business background is in the manufacture, sale and repair of handmade Persian design rugs

There's Persian and there's Indo-Persian. Former will be more expensive and probably less robust. Latter more durable. Both will serve you well.

JL is just about the most expensive place you could buy this stuff.

Thames Carpets would be a good place to start for Persian. Indo-Persian, NYC are good

https://www.ntcrugs.com/

We have carpets that have been in every day use for 30 years and still keeping shape etc. Good investment

[shirt]

jaipur rugs are good for indo-persian. prices from half your budget to above 50k. i believe they sell direct into the uk these days.

[Hereward]

My 50 year old Nain is going strong and appreciated every day. I was born in Iran and my parents bought it in my birth year, if I remember correctly.

[ATG]

We bought some from Uri Jacobi in Chester. Really nice bloke. Great service. Happy to spend a lot of time with you to help you pick the right carpet. Big range of sizes, styles, condition and prices. E.g. if you say something like "we want something huge, that'll look good on a quarry stone tiled floor, that is going to take a battering because people will be walking on it and it's next to a dining table so might catch some food" he can dig out something that's reasonably priced so you're not going to weep if it gets knackered ... and equally he's got lots of really special high end stuff that you put somewhere you think will be safe, and then your mate chucks a cup of coffee on it.

[littleredrooster]

A lady was admiring the Persian rugs in JL and as she bent over to feel the quality, she inadvertantly let out a little squeaky fart.

Flustered, she started to make her escape, but the salesman was there.
"Can I help you, Madam?"
"I was just admiring the rugs - are they expensive?"
"Madam - you farted when you touched it, you'll sh!t yourself when I tell you the price"

Sorry - couldn't help it...

[Riley Blue]

Thanks for all your thoughts and suggestions, all being explored.

Apparently the idea of a rug is all my fault after I showed her this house (pics 5 and 6) in the 'real estate pawn' thread...:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157116782#/...

She's already changing her mind, last night she mentioned a Lutyens Bench...

[Roger Irrelevant]

Hereward said:

My 50 year old Nain is going strong and appreciated every day. I was born in Iran and my parents bought it in my birth year, if I remember correctly.

That's lovely - I wanted a blue Ziegler-style rug shortly after we moved to our current place but my wife put the kybosh on it and we ended up getting a more muted beigey/grey one. If memory serves it was made in Belgium which it seems many are these days. Now I've got my own room/office set up I might get a proper one from the middle east like yours though.

[dhutch]

Not to everyone's taste, but I bought this ten years ago, and absolutely love it. Very soft, bright, surprisingly durable.
I was working in Delhi for a year so picked it up on a trip to Agra one weekend and after enjoying it in my hotel room for 6months bought it back in a suitcase.



We also have two very large non-fitted carpets, one is a family heirloom form my dad's childhood home, but the other was bought via eBay for a very responsible price. We actually bought another first, didn't feel it fitted, and resold it easily.


Daniel

Edited by dhutch on Saturday 1st February 10:29

[LooneyTunes]

Check out your local auction house. They sometimes come up and go for peanuts. We bought a very large one, originally from Harrods, for a couple of hundred pounds…proper room sized one, so shudder to think how much it must have cost new.

Frith Rugs are worth a look too, but ultimately you really need to see rugs/carpets in person.

[paddy1970]

One key factor in evaluating Persian rugs is the knot density (knots per square inch). Generally, higher knot counts (e.g., 200+ per square inch) indicate finer craftsmanship, but this depends on the rug style. Tribal rugs tend to have lower knot counts but are still high-quality and durable

Authentic Persian rugs use natural dyes, which age beautifully and develop a patina over time. Synthetic dyes can sometimes fade unevenly.

Persian rugs come from different regions of Iran, each with distinct styles and patterns. For example:

Tabriz – Often intricate with floral patterns.

Kashan – Rich reds and blues with central medallions.

Gabbeh – More minimalist, often with bold colours.

Qashqai – Geometric tribal designs.

For better value, consider looking at antique or vintage Persian rugs. Many estate auctions or specialist rug auctions (e.g., Bonhams, Christie's) occasionally have high-quality Persian rugs at reasonable prices.

If purchasing new, some reputable UK-based Persian rug dealers import directly from Iran, which can reduce costs. Dealers in London (e.g., The Oriental Rug Gallery or Iran Rug Company) and Birmingham often have direct supply chains.

[smifffymoto]

Most are carpets,not rugs.