What documented Tabriz carpet looks like
Reference photographs of documented Tabriz carpet pieces, credited to their sources. Compare construction, surface and wear with any piece you are offered — a resemblance is not proof of origin.
Tabriz carpet at a glance
| Persian name | قالی تبریز |
| Category | Textiles · City carpet |
| Main techniques | knotted-pile-weaving |
| Typical materials | wool, silk, cotton, natural-dyes |
| Places of making | tabriz |
| Current vitality | Living tradition |
Understanding Tabriz carpet
What Tabriz carpet is and how it is made
Definition
Tabriz carpets are woven from a squared cartoon prepared by a designer, which allows complex curvilinear and pictorial compositions to be executed consistently by several weavers on one loom.
Weavers in Tabriz typically use a hooked knife that cuts the pile as each knot is tied, a working method not general elsewhere in Iran.
History
Tabriz was an Ilkhanid capital and a repeated centre of design innovation. Its nineteenth-century workshops organised the export trade on a commercial footing, and the city has since remained the main source of designed, workshop-woven Iranian carpets.
Structure
Foundations are usually cotton, with silk used for highlights or for the whole pile in the finest work. Grades are often quoted in raj, a count of knots across a fixed width; higher raj indicates finer weave but again does not by itself indicate quality.
- Cotton warp and weft in most grades
- Asymmetric knotting, double-wefted
- Raj counts commonly from 30 to 70 in current production
- Silk highlights in medallion and corner work
General background on the craft, not a statement about any individual object; dates and attributions summarise common positions in the literature and remain under review. Read the full Tabriz carpet entry.
Before you buy: what to inspect
- Turn the piece over: hand-knotted or hand-stitched work shows slight irregularities on the back.
- Look at fringes and edges — on knotted carpets the fringe is usually the warp itself, not a sewn-on strip.
- Check colour consistency; natural dyes often show gentle banding (abrash), which is not a defect.
- Ask whether the colours have been tested for bleeding; never wet-test an old or valuable piece yourself.
Typical materials: wool, silk, cotton, natural-dyes.
Red flags: copies and 'Persian style' imports
- Perfectly uniform backs, glued backing cloth or a latex layer (typical of machine or tufted rugs).
- Listings that say 'Persian style', 'Persian design' or 'inspired by' without naming a place of making.
- Printed patterns sold as hand-embroidered or hand-block-printed.
A genuine Tabriz carpet piece should come with a named place of making in Iran (often tabriz) and a clear statement that it is handmade.
Questions to ask the seller
- Where and by whom was this made, and roughly when?
- What are the fibre and dye (wool, silk, cotton; natural or synthetic)?
- Can you show a close-up photo of the back and the edges?
What affects the price
| Knot or stitch density |
| Fibre (silk is costlier than wool) |
| Size and age |
| Condition and repairs |
| Natural dyes |
Care and cleaning
- Vacuum rugs gently without a beater bar, in the direction of the pile.
- Rotate floor pieces every six to twelve months to even out wear and light exposure.
- Blot spills straight away with cold water; never rub.
- Send valuable or old pieces to a specialist cleaner rather than a general dry cleaner.
Storage
- Roll with the pile facing inward, never fold.
- Wrap in breathable cotton, not plastic.
- Protect against moths with regular airing and inspection.
Shipping
Rolled textiles travel well; ask for tube or rolled packing and tracked delivery.
Illustrative examples in the archive
- Tabriz Medallion Carpet · Illustrative example · not for sale here
Disclaimer
This guide is educational. It cannot confirm that any particular object is genuine, old or valuable. For important purchases, ask an independent specialist. Read the full Tabriz carpet entry.