While their history pre-dates this, Persian rugs rose to global prominence during the Safavid period (1501–1736), when royal patronage elevated them to symbols of luxury. Their detailed patterning — with common motifs including medallions and the tree of life — remains highly coveted, with a 17th-century Safavid silk and metal-thread ‘Polonaise’ carpet sold by Christie’s for £2 million in 2021. These qualities, combined with their vibrant colours, highlight the timeless appeal of Persian rugs.
A KIRMAN 'VASE' CARPET
SOUTH EAST PERSIA, MID-17TH CENTURY
AN IMPORTANT SAFAVID SILK AND METAL-THREAD 'POLONAISE' CARPET
ISFAHAN, CENTRAL PERSIA, FIRST QUARTER 17TH CENTURY
AN IMPORTANT SAFAVID SILK AND METAL-THREAD 'POLONAISE' CARPET
ISFAHAN, CENTRAL PERSIA, FIRST QUARTER 17TH CENTURY
A SILK ISFAHAN RUG
CENTRAL PERSIA, CIRCA 1600
A HIGHLY IMPORTANT SAFAVID SILK AND METAL-THREAD 'POLONAISE' CARPET
PROBABLY ISFAHAN, CENTRAL PERSIA, EARLY 17TH CENTURY
A HIGHLY IMPORTANT SAFAVID SILK AND METAL-THREAD 'POLONAISE' CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, EARLY 17TH CENTURY
A KIRMAN 'VASE' CARPET
SOUTH EAST PERSIA, LATE 17TH CENTURY
AN IMPRESSIVE SILK SAFAVID 'POLONAISE' CARPET
PROBABLY ISFAHAN, CENTRAL PERSIA, EARLY 17TH CENTURY
A KIRMAN 'VASE' CARPET FRAGMENT
SOUTH EAST PERSIA, LATE 16TH CENTURY
A SILK AND METAL-THREAD 'POLONAISE' RUG
ISFAHAN, CENTRAL PERSIA, EARLY 17TH CENTURY
A KIRMAN 'VASE' CARPET FRAGMENT
SOUTH EAST PERSIA, MID 17TH CENTURY
AN IMPORTANT KIRMAN 'VASE' CARPET FRAGMENT
SOUTH EAST PERSIA, FIRST HALF 17TH CENTURY
A 'POLONAISE' SILK AND METAL THREAD RUG
ISFAHAN, CENTRAL PERSIA, 17TH CENTURY
A SILK HERIZ CARPET
NORTH WEST PERSIA, MID 19TH CENTURY
AN IMPRESSIVE SAFAVID ISFAHAN CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, EARLY 17TH CENTURY
A KIRMAN 'VASE' CARPET
SOUTH EAST PERSIA, LATE 17TH CENTURY
A MASSIVE SAFAVID ISFAHAN GALLERY CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, MID 17TH CENTURY
A KASHAN 'MOHTASHAM' CARPET
ORDERED BY HAJJI MUHAMMAD HUSAYN KASHANI, CENTRAL PERSIA, CIRCA 1870-80
A SILK KASHAN CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, CIRCA 1900
AN ISFAHAN CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, 17TH CENTURY
AN ISFAHAN CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, 17TH CENTURY
A KIRMAN 'VASE' CARPET FRAGMENT
SOUTH EAST PERSIA, EARLY 17TH CENTURY
A KASHAN CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, CIRCA 1910
A FINE SILK KIRMAN RUG
DESIGNED BY FURSAT SHIRAZI, WOVEN BY ABU'L-QASEM KIRMANI, SOUTH EAST PERSIA, DATED AH 1316 (1898-9 AD)
A SILK AND METAL-THREAD 'POLONAISE' RUG
ISFAHAN, CENTRAL PERSIA, FIRST QUARTER 17TH CENTURY
A KIRMAN MASHA'IR CARPET
SIGNED MUHAMMAD IBN JA'FAR, SOUTH EAST PERSIA, CIRCA 1900
A VERY FINELY WOVEN LARGE MESHED CARPET
SIGNED BY SABER, NORTH EAST PERSIA, CIRCA 1970
A LONG KHORASAN 'COMPARTMENT AND TREE' CARPET
NORTH EAST PERSIA, 17TH CENTURY
A SILK AND METAL-THREAD HERIZ RUG
SIGNED RAJAB, NORTH WEST PERSIA, EARLY 19TH CENTURY
A SILK HERIZ CARPET
NORTH WEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1880
AN ISFAHAN CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, 17TH CENTURY
AN ISFAHAN CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, 17TH CENTURY
A SILK AND METAL-THREAD 'POLONAISE' RUG
ISFAHAN, CENTRAL IRAN, FIRST QUARTER 17TH CENTURY
A PICTORIAL KIRMAN CARPET
SIGNED 'HAJI MIR ALI KIRMANI', SOUTH EAST PERSIA, CIRCA 1890
A PETAG TABRIZ CARPET
NORTH WEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1920
AN ISFAHAN CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, 17TH CENTURY
AN ISFAHAN RUG
CENTRAL PERSIA, 17TH CENTURY
A SILK ISFAHAN CARPET
BY 'MEHDI HAGHIGHI', CENTRAL PERSIA, CIRCA 1910
A SAFAVID 'VASE' RUG
KIRMAN, SOUTH EAST PERSIA, SECOND HALF 17TH CENTURY
A KASHAN 'MOHTASHAM' RUG
CENTRAL PERSIA, CIRCA 1880
A MASSIVE TABRIZ CARPET
NORTH WEST PERSIA, DATED AH 1309/1891-92 AD
AN ISFAHAN PART-COTTON AND METAL-THREAD RUG
CENTRAL PERSIA, SECOND QUARTER 17TH CENTURY
AN ISFAHAN CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, 17TH CENTURY
AN ISFAHAN CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, 17TH CENTURY
A TABRIZ CARPET
NORTHWEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1880
A SILK KIRMAN CARPET
SIGNED MILANI, SOUTH EAST PERSIA, CIRCA 1890
A SILK KASHAN CARPET
CENTRAL PERSIA, CIRCA 1910
A SAFAVID KHORASSAN GALLERY CARPET
NORTH EAST PERSIA, 17TH CENTURY
A PICTORIAL KIRMAN CARPET
SOUTHEAST PERSIA, CIRCA 1910
AN ISFAHAN RUG
CENTRAL PERSIA, EARLY 17TH CENTURY