Persian Rugs

Persian rugs are highly regarded for their beauty, artistry, and practicality in the home. Persian Rugs are Oriental rugs made in Iran, historically known as Persia. Here at Zeezbee, we have exceptional knowledge of Persian rugs thanks to our two generations in the rug business. We delight in sharing both our Persian rugs and our knowledge with you.

Persian rugs are known for their tremendous variety and elaborate designs. Over the centuries they have had a multitude of origins, from nomadic tribes and village workshops to the royal court.

Many places use their own weaving techniques, designs, colors, and materials. Thus, many people have a favorite type of rug, often named after a place, including Gabbeh, Tabriz, Kerman, Kashan, Mashad, and many more. Most Persian rug types are pile rugs, with the exception of the popular Kilim, Soumak, and Suzani, which are flatweave. For pile rugs one side is usable, but for some flatweaves you can use both sides.

Unfortunately, carpet weaving went through periods of decline in the 1900’s, especially with the introduction of synthetic dyes. However, recent decades have seen better quality dyes along with a return of traditional dyeing with natural dyes. Persian rug weaving is experiencing an overall revival, with a new interest in tribal patterns and new designs, but with the continuation of centuries-old techniques.

Turkish Rugs

Turkish rugs are typically hand woven with naturally dyed wool. A great variety of Turkish rugs originate from workshops in the royal court, towns, and villages, as well as nomads’ tents in tribal regions.

One thing Turkish rugs are known for is the Turkish knot, also called the Ghiordes knot or the symmetrical knot. Turkish rugs are also known for geometric designs and tribal patterns, though many exceptions can be found.

As in Persia, there was a decrease in the quality of Turkish rugs in the early 1900’s as machine manufacturing, with its altogether different knotting method, took over. However, recent decades have brought about a renaissance in carpet creation, which includes returning to handweaving and naturally dyed wool.

Oriental Rugs

The Orient historically meant The East, and Oriental rugs originate from that area, which includes Turkey, Iran, India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, as well as China, Tibet, Azerbaijan, and Meghreb (the western and central parts of Northern Africa). The modern term refers specifically to handmade rugs.

Antique Rugs

Zeezbee sells many antique rugs. Some are over 100 years old, and some are much older. There are a number of differences between antique rugs and newer rugs.

Antique rugs were often handmade at home by the woman of the house, instead of being made in a workshop. They are made of high-quality wool, or a combination of wool and silk, which is one reason they have lasted this long.

Antique rugs were also made using natural dyes. The natural dyes come from a variety of sources such as indigo, madder, turmeric, walnut shell, henna, tea, saffron and many others.

Handmade antique rugs were usually made at home, not in a workshop, so they often have imperfections that give them character. For instance, you may notice that antique rug borders can be rather uneven, compared to machine-made rugs. We have tried to show such things in our rug photos.

You will want to consider such things carefully when selecting antique rugs for your floors. Another way to enjoy their beauty is to hang them on the wall. Many people are naturally attracted to handmade things, because they often reveal some of the character of the person who made them.

Our rug weavers can make reproductions of antique rugs, and in their workshops, they pay attention to keeping the sides even and regular. Thus, you can have the timeless beauty of antique rugs but with straighter edges and lower prices than rare antique collectibles.

The antique rugs at Zeezbee include styles such as Bidjar, Gabbeh, Bakhshayesh, and many, many others.