The Persian rug is an essential part of Persian art and culture. Carpet-weaving is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished manifestations of Persian culture and art, and dates back to the Bronze Age (c.3500-2000 BC).
The earliest surviving corpus of Persian carpets come from the Safavid dynasty (1501-1736) in the 16th century. However, painted depictions prove a longer history of production. There is much variety among classical Persian carpets of the 16th and 17th century. Common motifs include scrolling vine networks, arabesques, palmettes, cloud bands, medallions, and overlapping geometric compartments rather than animals and humans. Persian Art being based in Shia Islam does not take the hard line against human representation that we see in Sunni influenced Turkish rug weaving. Figural designs are particularly popular in the Iranian market and are not nearly as common in rugs exported to the west.

Co. - The care and cleaning of oriental rugs, by a well known restorer.
Meta Description: [ Holly L. Smith & Co. Oriental Rug restoration and repair: local and overseas, and oriental rug brokerage, Boston, Massachusetts ]
Kilims - Oriental rugs and textiles from Anatolia and central Asia.
Natasha Eiland's InternetRugs - Berkeley (California) dealer site, with some information on rugs.
Meta Description: [ View 1000+ photos of Emmett Eiland's Oriental Rugs with handspun wool and natural dyes. Plus, learn about Oriental rugs, create an online rug gallery, get our San Francisco Bay Area (Berkeley) oriental carpet store info and more. ]
Oriental Carpets - Decorative European carpets and tapestries; antique oriental rugs and carpets.
Meta Description: [ Alex Zadah Fine Oriental Carpets sells antique European Persian, Caucasian and Anatolian & Central Asian collectors' rugs and room-size decorative carpets, The Gallery also stocks 16th to 19th century European tapestries. ]
Alberto Levi Gallery - Antique textiles and carpets; periodic exhibitions.
Meta Description: [ Antique textiles and carpets as works of art ]
American Conference on Oriental Rugs - Association of American rug societies, with conventions every two years.
Antique and decorative Oriental rugs and textiles - Antique tribal rugs and decorative carpets.
Meta Description: [ Antique tribal rugs and decorative carpets. ]
Antique Ottoman Rugs in Transylvania - Based on Stefano Ionescu's book of the same title, with over 260 color photos of antique rugs.
Meta Description: [ The antique Anatolian carpets from the Ottoman
period which survived in Transylvania ]
Armenian Rugs and Carpets - Scholarly essay on the ethnographic history and significance of carpets in Armenia.
Meta Description: [ From ancient times carpets and rugs have been regarded as a vital necessity in the Armenian domestic life. Armenian rugs, renowned in the remote Middle - Ages and even earlier, are proof of the fact that the Armenian people have played a most important role ]
Armenian Rugs Society - Organization devoted to the appreciation of Armenian rugs.
Meta Description: [ The Armenian Rugs Society is dedicated to the identification, preservation and dissemination of knowledge of Armenian rugs. ]
At World Rugs - Oriental carpet discussion groups, newsletters, resources directory and some commercial content.
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Azerbaijan Carpets - Information about culture and history of rug weaving in Azerbaijan; seller of mostly mid-20th century carpets.
Beauvais Carpets - Services for private collectors, corporations and museums in the acquisition or sale of carpets and textiles from the 15th century to the present day.
Meta Description: [ Remarkable selection of antique oriental carpets and 20th century decorative arts at Doris Leslie Blau Ltd. in New York City ]
Brandon Oriental Rugs - Nice introductory material for the newcomer to the rug world.
Cetinkaya Gallery - Well known Istanbul dealer in antique textiles, with live and on-line exhibitions.
Meta Description: [ MEHMET ÇETINKAYA GALLERY comprehensive resource and marketplace , Mehmet Çetinkaya|cetinkayagallery.com, and much more. ]
Christopher Legge - Sales, restoration and cleaning of antique and new oriental carpets.
Meta Description: [ Oriental carpets, sell, advice and services. Christopher and Angela Legge - Oriental carpets ]
Claudio Mariani: Tibetan and Chinese Antiques and Carpets - Commercial site with images of Tibetan and Chinese rugs and a list of recommended readings.
Meta Description: [ rugsTibetan ,Claudio Mariani, carpets Chinese, Tiger rugs,Asian Arts , Asian antiques, Chinese furniture, Buddha statues, Tibetan carpets, Silver Tibetan, Miao textiles, Blue White porcelain, Chinese pottery, collectibles ]
Clive Rogers Oriental Rugs - Photos and information about antique oriental rugs.
Cloudband - On-line magazine about textile and tribal arts, with a dealer arcade.
Cocoon - Seref Ozen, Istanbul dealer in antique textiles, mostly from central and western Asia.
Meta Description: [ Tribal Rugs and Central Asian Textiles ]
Collins Gallery - Old and antique Persian rugs, with reference material, bibliography, articles and many photographs of Bijars.
Costumes and Textiles - Exhibitions from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
deYoung Museum Textiles - Extensive collection of images and information from the San Francisco museum.
eRug Gallery - Commercial site with a Learn About Rugs section.
Meta Description: [ E Rug Gallery offers handmade rugs including contemporary, oriental, wool, modern, persian, and area rugs in various shapes including in different shapes like round, rectangular and square ones. ]
FlyingRugs - Rugs and kilims, largely from Konya, Turkey, with many images and some background information.
Franses US - North American gallery specializing in historic tapestries, carpets and textiles, with periodic exhibitions.
Meta Description: [ S Franses antique carpets, textiles and tapestries ]
Gallery Anatolia - Turkish dealer (in Cappadocia region). Site has some information on symbols in kilims.
Meta Description: [ Gallery Anatolia - Anatolian Regional Carpet Manufacturing, Cappadocia - Turkey. ]
Gallery Tulip - Antique textiles from the silk road countries. In English and Japanese.
Ghereh - Quarterly journal for textile collectors. English and Italian editions.
Meta Description: [ ghereh,rug magazine, Textile-Art Publications, carpet, das teppichmagazin, rivista tappeti orientali, taher sabahi, iran carpet, textile ]
Hajji Baba Club - Activities, news and photos of events of the New York based rug collector club.
HALI - English periodical devoted to oriental rugs, textiles, and Islamic Art.
Haliden Oriental Rugs and Carpets - Dealer site with many images of antique rugs and bags.
Meta Description: [ antique rugs, antique oriental carpets, tribal rugs, tribal carpets, decorative, persian rugs, from Haliden Oriental Carpets also turcoman rugs, turkish and much more ]
Harlequin Thunderstrand - A nice online catalog of antique rugs and back issues of Hali.
Meta Description: [ Fine antique collectable oriental rugs for sale online from an acknowledged expert. Extensive range for instant viewing on the web. Anatolian, Central Asian, Persian, Caucasian. ]
Hort Oriental Rugs - Antique oriental rugs, mostly village and tribal, with some background information on each.
Meta Description: [ Antique Oriental Rugs by Ron Hort are in good condition with wonderful colors and affordable prices. We pride ourselves with being honest. We list our prices up front and try to make them very reasonable right from the beginning. ]
International Conference on Oriental Carpets - Organization dedicated to carpet and textile arts, with conventions every three years, and books for sale.
International Hajji Baba Society - Rug collector club in Washington, D.C.
Jacobsen Oriental Rugs and Carpets - A commercial site with lots of information, especially useful for the novice collector.
Meta Description: [ America's Source for Oriental Rugs: photos of oriental carpets and rug weaving; information about knots-looms-dyes-prices-designs-maps ]
JBOC's Notes on Oriental Rugs - Barry O'Connell's opinions of oriental rugs and the people involved with them.
Meta Description: [ ORIENTAL Rugs and Oriental Carpets JBOCs Notes on Oriental Rugs, Learn about Oriental rugs and carpets. ]
Jozan - Articles, auction news, sales gallery and information about oriental rugs.
Meta Description: [ Oriental rug & carpet portal and magazine. News, articles, Oriental rugs & antique Persian rugs, tribal rug & kilim sales gallery, search engine and directory. ]
Jozan Magazine - Syndicated rug news.
Keshishian Carpets - Dealer (New York and London) in oriental rugs and textiles.
Meta Description: [ Keshishian Galleries of New York and London are leading dealers of rare antique carpets and period European tapestries of outstanding quality. 20th century Arts & Crafts and Art Deco carpets by renowned artists also a speciality. ]
Kilim.com - Kilims and other textiles, with articles and a discussion forum.
Meta Description: [ Kilim.com is a guide, store and rug gallery for high quality kilim rugs, area rugs, contemporary rugs, oriental rugs, antique rugs, tribal rugs. ]
Le Bazaar D'Orient - Commercial site with a lot of information about Turkish weaving. In English and French.
Meta Description: [ Le Bazaar D'Orient - Only the best carpets and kilims - Urgup, Cappadocia - Turkey. ]
Mark Keshishian and Sons - Dealer site with some articles about rugs.
Meta Description: [ Your Source for Oriental Rugs.Located in Chevy Chase Maryland,Washington and surrounding area's Premier Oriental Rug Store. Collectables, Antiques,
Semi- Antiques and New Carpets. We specialize in Oversize, Antique and Antique
Reproduction Rugs. Known the World over for our expertise not only i... ]
Meidan 91 - Shop in Tbilisi (Georgia), dealing mostly in antique Caucasian rugs.
New England Rug Society - Organization for collectors of rugs and textiles.
Meta Description: [ The New England Rug Society is a Boston area group of antique rug and textile collectors. ]
Nikos A. Salingaros: Contributions to Carpet Studies - University of Texas Mathematics Professor applies and defends methodology of Christopher Alexander.
NonPlusUltra - Includes a number of (mostly antique) rugs for sale, articles and announcements of interest to collectors. A good site, but slow.
Old Tribal Rugs Gallery - Persian rugs, urban, village and tribal, and some photos of tribal people.
Oldcarpet - Information about Persian rugs; cleaning, texture, sizes, color, materials, knots, values.
Meta Description: [ Persian Oriental Area Rugs and Carpets at low prices. Large selection of Persian rugs, Oriental rugs, area rugs, Kilims and discount rugs. FREE SHIPPING TO ALL NORTH AMERICA ]
One Thousand Years of Chinese Textiles - Exhibition of Chinese textiles, on display in 1995 at the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
Meta Description: [ Heavens' Embroidered Cloths, a major exhibition of Chinese textiles from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. ]
Oriental Rug Review - A tabloid from 1981-1987, color magazine until 1996. Now on the web only. Back issues, some new material.
Meta Description: [ Oriental Rugs, Persian Rugs, Oriental Rug Magazine, Turkish Rugs, Iran, U. S. Civil War, Antiques, Paper Ephemera ]
Oriental Rug Society in Gothenburg (Sweden) - A non-commercial society for collectors of oriental textiles, includes exhibitions, photos and facts.
Oriental Rugs of Bath - Dealer in old and new quality hand-made rugs, especially room-size and over-size. Specialist cleaning and repairs, valuations.
Meta Description: [ Specialist in high-end tribal, village and workshop oriental rugs. Oversize carpets and Aubussons exceptional stocks. Free delivery UK & abroad. International rug search facility available. ]
Perryman Oriental Carpets - Australian dealer in textiles, restoration and cleaning services.
Persian Carpet - Cultural information and history related to Persian carpets.
Peter Pap Oriental Rugs - Dealer in antique oriental rugs, with galleries in San Francisco and Dublin, New Hampshire.
Raymond Benardout Gallery - Los Angeles dealer (formerly in London) in antique rugs, textiles, and tapestries.
Meta Description: [ Raymond Benardout Gallery - Oriental rugs, Collectible rugs & carpets, unique textiles, and tapestries. ]
Richard E. Wright Research Reports - A scholar's notes on the nature and origin of textiles.
Meta Description: [ Richard E. Wrights Research Notes Concerning Oriental Rugs and Textiles in the Middle East ]
Rippon Boswell Oriental Rugs, Carpets and Textiles - Appraisers of Oriental rugs, carpets and tapestries for all purposes.
Rippon Boswell Wiesbaden - Antique carpet auctioneer; site in English and German.
Meta Description: [ Willkommen bei RIPPON BOSWELL & Co. ]
San Francisco Bay Area Rug Society - Large, active rug collector club, with on-line exhibitions.
Meta Description: [ Articles and discussion of mostly antique collectible oriental rugs and related ethnographic textiles ]
Seattle Textile and Rug Society - Increasing understanding and appreciation of collectible textiles and oriental rugs in the greater Seattle area.
Meta Description: [ The Seattle Textile and Rug Society - dedicated to increasing knowledge and appreciation of collectible textiles and oriental rugs in the greater Seattle area. ]
Shaver~Ramsey, Oriental Rugs - Denver dealer with many educational events for new and experienced collectors.
Silk and Wool: Ottoman Textile Designs in Turkish Rugs - A scholarly article by a collector, Gerard Paquin.
Silk Road - New and antique rugs and kilims made with natural dyes, wholesale and retail.
Textile Gallery - Michael Franses' commercial site with scholarly exhibitions
Textile Museum - Washington, DC museum devoted to textile arts. Information on exhibitions, educational programs, textile learning center, and shop.
Textile Museum of Canada - Toronto's museum devoted to textiles.
Meta Description: [ The Textile Museum of Canada Web site features information about current exhibitions, programs, events and activities as well as providing digital access to the TMC textile collection. ]
TextilesAsArt.com - Very beautiful site from a dealer with a wide range of Asian textiles.
The Lenkoran Gallery of Antique Textile Arts - A gallery in London, England featuring a range of pieces from different parts of the world.
Meta Description: [ New York based dealer in antique Caucasian, Anatolian and Persian rugs, kelims (kilims) and tribal bags & in antique Swedish & Pre-Columbian textiles. ]
The Persian Carpet Gallery - A noncommercial site from Stanford University, with a history of Persian carpets and examples of rugs from most regions of Iran.
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The Rug Company - Informational site with charactersitics of rugs and carpets from various geographic areas.
Meta Description: [ The Registry of Rugs from around the world ]
Tribal Art at Rimea.net - A personal collection and exchange of oriental, tribal rugs.
Meta Description: [ A personal collection and sale of oriental tribal rugs and textiles ]
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Tschebull Antique Carpets - Informative commercial site, by one of the leading authorities on northwest Persian and Caucasian rugs.
Turkish Bazaar - Rugs, kilims and other artifacts from Turkey and surrounding areas, with a lot of information about rugs and kilims.
Meta Description: [ You will find the finest handmade
Oriental Turkish rugs,kilims,antiques,kilim pillows,silvers,textiles,grinders,evil
eye,many different souvenirs ]
Vanishing Textiles - Selections from an exhibition/book on ethnographic textiles.
Meta Description: [ Antique and semi-antique tribal kilims, flat-weaves, oriental rugs, tent dividers, divan covers, saddle and transport bags made by semi-nomadic and nomadic weavers in pastoral societies dependent on their sheep and goats. Bessarabian, Uzbeki, Qashqai are just a sampling of our bold and dramatic k... ]
World Wide Weave - A directory of oriental rug and textile societies.
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