When talk of alluring Oriental creations arises, Oriental and Persian rugs inevitably come up for their unique and masterful craft. In most if not all of these conversation, a certain type of Persian rug always gets brought up. While all Persian rugs are truly stunning, the carpets among them that especially stand out are the Shiraz rugs of Iran.

 

History behind Shiraz Rugs

 
 
In the Iranian Province of Fars, small villages around the city of Shiraz constantly carpet-weave. Carpets from Shiraz resemble the common grandeur of all Persian rugs; however, because of the diverse nature of Shiraz due to events such as migration, rugs from Shiraz are occasionally similar to those from Qashqai, Khamseh, Basseri, Afshar, Abadeh and Luri. Regardless, Shiraz carpets still retain a sense of originality and distinctiveness since nearly all of them are handmade as opposed to being made commercially in factories. They are large, often coarse, use a fixed loom, possess symmetrical knots, and are made to sell. Consequently, Shiraz rugs are ever in demand, attested from their sales popularity worldwide.

 
Materials and Textures

 

Shiraz Persian Rug

 
Carpets from Shiraz are usually made of either cotton or wool; wool is sometimes used in the pile as well. Wool is likewise used in the weft and warp. In the weft and warp, goat hair yarn is sometimes utilized as well. Coming from a region with semi-extreme temperatures, it is of no surprise that carpets from Shiraz use said materials to be adaptable in any environment. This makes them stand out in world markets as they can purchased for their flexibility.

  
Weaving Techniques

 
Shiraz Persian Rug
 
These Oriental area rugs use the Persian symmetrical knot, with an average knot count of around 120 KPSI (knots per square inch), and knot density of 80 000 – 160 000 KPSM (knots per square meter). The greater the knot density, the greater the quality of the rug. All Shiraz rugs are made with the utmost care to cater to all preferences, and even rugs with a lower knot count are not to be overlooked on the premise that they are of bad quality.

  
Designs and Patterns

 

Shiraz Persian Rug

 
Shiraz Persian carpets feature the characteristic design of a central pole medallion interspersed with geometric patterns and diamond-shaped lozenges. Across their borders is often smaller bands encompassing a larger band with palm and pine leaf designs. Others sometimes portray a white horse accompanied by nightingales in angular shapes. The Shiraz's characteristic designs serve to give them an old-world appeal and promote their exclusivity.

 
Available Sizes

 
Of the many sizes available, most Shiraz rugs on sale are of the size 4 x 6 feet to 8 x 10 feet. A larger size, 10 x 18 feet, can occasionally be found. The smaller sizes are great for use in the bedrooms, to transform the intimate interiors into a vintage appearance. Check out our Shiraz rugs for sale.