Silk rugs from Kashmir and Iran (Persia)

There is nothing quite like a handmade silk rug, so we prefer to show silk rugs separately from the other rugs. The fineness of the yarn makes silk rugs so detailed, which lets the silk weavers produce an extremely detailed carpet. All designs are completely planned, with every design element being carefully worked out before the piece is made. Persian Qum pieces of silk on a silk foundation are among the finest silk rugs. These rugs are highly regarded because of the quality and intricacy of the pattern, with a knot count ranging from 250 to 1000 knots per square inch.

One of the main reasons that silk rugs are more expensive is because of the additional time taken to weave them. Because silk is much finer than wool, the knot count in a handcrafted silk rug is often three or four times higher than in a similar handmade wool rug or carpet. More beautiful yarns like silk mean they can have much more detail than carpets, which is also why silk carpets feel much more luxurious.

In recent years we have found fabulous handcrafted silk rugs from Kashmir, often beautifully made on a silk foundation. These rugs are often more affordable than traditional Persian Qum pieces, and we think the quality is comparable.

It should also be noted that our photographs in this section will be done from both ends of the silk carpet. You may consider some pieces we show as two different rugs because the difference is great.