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The Ahmadi Rug Reference

A guide to rug types, origins, and patterns

From Persian court medallions to Afghan tribal guls — understanding what you own, and what you’re restoring.

Eight traditions

The patterns

  • Persian · Iran
    Persian Medallion

    The archetype of hand-knotted rug design. Central medallion compositions with arabesque vines and floral field patterns dating to the 16th century.

    • Hand-knotted
    • Wool or silk
    • 100–600 KPSI
    KPSI 100–600
    Service →Collection →
  • Turkish · Caucasian
    Geometric Tribal

    Bold geometric forms woven by tribal communities. Gul medallions, hooked diamonds, and reciprocal borders. No two pieces identical.

    • Hand-knotted
    • Wool pile
    • 50–200 KPSI
    KPSI 50–200
    Service →Collection →
  • Afghan · Central Asian
    Afghan / Bukhara

    Elephant foot gul patterns woven by Turkmen tribes. Deep, saturated reds from pomegranate and madder dyes. Extraordinarily durable construction.

    • Hand-knotted
    • Wool pile
    • 60–180 KPSI
    KPSI 60–180
    Service →Collection →
  • Persian · Court Tradition
    Fine Floral Persian

    Curvilinear floral compositions requiring exceptional knot density. Produced in city workshops by master weavers trained over decades.

    • Hand-knotted
    • Fine wool or silk
    • 200–800 KPSI
    KPSI 200–800
    Service →Collection →
  • Persian · Silk Tradition
    Silk Herati

    The Herati pattern — rosette in diamond with lancet leaves — executed in pure silk. Light-responsive pile changes color with viewing angle.

    • Hand-knotted
    • 100% Silk
    • 400–800 KPSI
    KPSI 400–800
    Service →Collection →
  • Contemporary · Global
    Modern Contemporary

    Abstract geometric forms for modern interiors. Machine-made or hand-tufted construction. Clean lines, limited palette, designed for livability.

    • Machine-made or tufted
    • Wool or synthetic
    • N/A KPSI
    Service →Collection →
  • Turkish · Anatolian
    Kilim Flatweave

    Flat-woven without pile. Slit-weave construction creates characteristic stepped geometric forms. Reversible, lightweight, extraordinarily durable.

    • Flat-woven
    • Wool
    • No pile
    Service →Collection →
  • Turkish · Western Anatolia
    Oushak / Ushak

    Open field compositions with large-scale palmette medallions. Softer wool and muted palette make Oushak the designer's choice for transitional interiors.

    • Hand-knotted
    • Soft wool
    • 40–100 KPSI
    KPSI 40–100
    Service →Collection →
Persian · Iran

Persian Medallion

The archetype of hand-knotted rug design. Central medallion compositions with arabesque vines and floral field patterns dating to the 16th century.

Regions
Tabriz · Kashan · Isfahan · Nain
Materials
Wool pile · Silk pile · Wool-silk blend
KPSI range
100–600
Foundation
Cotton or silk
Typical colors
Deep red · Midnight blue · Ivory · Gold
Construction
Hand-knotted
  • Hand-knotted
  • Wool or silk
  • 100–600 KPSI
Service for this rug typeCommission this style
Turkish · Caucasian

Geometric Tribal

Bold geometric forms woven by tribal communities. Gul medallions, hooked diamonds, and reciprocal borders. No two pieces identical.

Regions
Anatolia · Azerbaijan · Shirvan · Kazak
Materials
Wool pile on wool foundation
KPSI range
50–200
Foundation
Wool
Typical colors
Terracotta · Navy · Ivory · Rust
Construction
Hand-knotted
  • Hand-knotted
  • Wool pile
  • 50–200 KPSI
Service for this rug typeCommission this style
Afghan · Central Asian

Afghan / Bukhara

Elephant foot gul patterns woven by Turkmen tribes. Deep, saturated reds from pomegranate and madder dyes. Extraordinarily durable construction.

Regions
Afghanistan · Turkmenistan · Pakistan
Materials
Hand-spun wool · Natural dyes
KPSI range
60–180
Foundation
Wool
Typical colors
Deep red · Dark navy · Ivory · Orange
Construction
Hand-knotted
  • Hand-knotted
  • Wool pile
  • 60–180 KPSI
Service for this rug typeCommission this style
Persian · Court Tradition

Fine Floral Persian

Curvilinear floral compositions requiring exceptional knot density. Produced in city workshops by master weavers trained over decades.

Regions
Kashan · Isfahan · Nain · Qum
Materials
Kork wool · Silk · Wool-silk blend
KPSI range
200–800
Foundation
Cotton or silk
Typical colors
Ivory · Soft blue · Rose · Pale green
Construction
Hand-knotted
  • Hand-knotted
  • Fine wool or silk
  • 200–800 KPSI
Service for this rug typeCommission this style
Persian · Silk Tradition

Silk Herati

The Herati pattern — rosette in diamond with lancet leaves — executed in pure silk. Light-responsive pile changes color with viewing angle.

Regions
Qum · Kashan · Isfahan
Materials
Mulberry silk pile · Silk foundation
KPSI range
400–800
Foundation
Silk
Typical colors
Gold · Ivory · Deep blue · Rose
Construction
Hand-knotted
  • Hand-knotted
  • 100% Silk
  • 400–800 KPSI
Service for this rug typeCommission this style
Contemporary · Global

Modern Contemporary

Abstract geometric forms for modern interiors. Machine-made or hand-tufted construction. Clean lines, limited palette, designed for livability.

Regions
India · Nepal · Turkey · Morocco
Materials
Wool · Synthetic blend · Cotton
KPSI range
—
Foundation
Canvas or cotton
Typical colors
Ivory · Charcoal · Natural · Accent
Construction
Machine-made or tufted
  • Machine-made or tufted
  • Wool or synthetic
  • N/A KPSI
Service for this rug typeCommission this style
Turkish · Anatolian

Kilim Flatweave

Flat-woven without pile. Slit-weave construction creates characteristic stepped geometric forms. Reversible, lightweight, extraordinarily durable.

Regions
Anatolia · Iran · Afghanistan · Morocco
Materials
Wool warp and weft · Natural dyes
KPSI range
—
Foundation
Self-foundation (flat weave)
Typical colors
Terracotta · Navy · Ivory · Gold · Rust
Construction
Flat-woven
  • Flat-woven
  • Wool
  • No pile
Service for this rug typeCommission this style
Turkish · Western Anatolia

Oushak / Ushak

Open field compositions with large-scale palmette medallions. Softer wool and muted palette make Oushak the designer's choice for transitional interiors.

Regions
Ushak · Gördes · Kula
Materials
Soft Anatolian wool
KPSI range
40–100
Foundation
Wool or cotton
Typical colors
Warm gold · Terracotta · Soft blue · Ivory
Construction
Hand-knotted
  • Hand-knotted
  • Soft wool
  • 40–100 KPSI
Service for this rug typeCommission this style
Care requirements by type

Care requirements

TypeCleaning methodSafe for steam?Professional required?Typical lifespan
Persian MedallionHand wash onlyNoYes50–200 years
Geometric TribalHand washNoYes50–100 years
Afghan / BukharaHand washNoYes50–150 years
Fine FloralHand wash, specialistNoAlways100+ years
SilkDry specialist onlyNeverAlways200+ years
Modern / TuftedMachine washableSometimesRecommended10–20 years
KilimHand washNoRecommended50–100 years
OushakHand washNoYes50–100 years

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