FAQ of Persian Rugs and Oriental Carpets

Are finely knotted rugs better than others?

No. There is an appropriate range of knot densities for each type of rug. For instance Heriz carpets range from 30 to 110 KPSI (Knots per square inch). If someone wove a 300 KPSI Heriz carpet it would look odd and differ too much to be true to type. Still in the normal course of things it is better to be in the upper end of the normal range. 300 KPSI is a very respectable Sarouk but not much for an Isfahan. Time plays a factor in this. A 1930s Isfahan at 400 KPSI is respectable but in a new rug it would be unremarkable. The fineness of the weave is only one of many factors. Perhaps a better question might be, "Is the rug beautiful?"

Four singles in one Turkish knot in a Heriz carpet Two singles in one Persian knot in a Isfahan carpet

As we can see in the images to the left rugs can differ greatly in knot size. The Heriz Carpet in the top picture is a thick durable rug that in many ways has supplanted the Bijar as the Iron Rug of Iran. Heriz warps and wefts tend to be among the heaviest used today in Iran. As we can see in the picture four thick single yarns in one knot is typical. Obviously one can not get fine detail in a design but Heriz Carpets are among the most popular carpets today in American and are used in a wide range of settings from casual to formal. Among the finest rugs in Iran today are the Rugs of Isfahan. It is not unusual to see Isfahan Rugs range from 576 (24 by 24) to 676 (264 by 26) knots per square inch and some workshops have reached 900 to 1000 knots per square inch. I take a look at some of the very best carpets ever made in Visiting with Master Faizullah Haghighi.

For more answers to common questions about Oriental Rugs see FAQ of Persian Rugs and Oriental Carpets

My Rug Notes: SW-Asia.com - www.SpongoBongo.com - News About Oriental Rugs - News on Iran - Oriental Rug Discussions

Barry O'Connell