Qom rugs: twentieth-century silk weaving

Background

Weaving in Qom grew from the 1930s. The city became known for fine silk and wool-and-silk rugs in many designs.

Designs

Qom weavers use prayer designs, garden panels, hunting scenes and Isfahan-style medallions.

Silk checks

Real silk feels cool and warms in the hand; mercerised cotton or viscose is often sold as 'silk'. Only a fibre test is reliable.

Construction

Silk foundations and asymmetric knots with very high density on good pieces.

Buying checklist

• Ask the seller what the regional name is based on: town, village group or design only
• Turn the rug over and look at knot type, warp colour and weft count
• Check ends, sides and pile height for wear or re-weaving
• Ask whether dyes have run or been chemically washed
• Ask for written confirmation of fibre content
• Get any claim about age, region or handmade origin in writing

Care

Silk is vulnerable to water, light and foot traffic. Use it in low-traffic rooms or on a wall.

A note on this guide

This is general information from the CraftPersia editorial team and has not been reviewed by a specialist. Regional names in the rug trade are market labels, and design alone is weak evidence of origin. This guide is not a valuation or authentication.