Setting
Qom stands on the edge of the salt desert on the Tehran–Isfahan road, dominated by the shrine complex and its surrounding bazaar.
Why this place matters for craft
Unlike older weaving centres, Qom's carpet reputation is modern: workshop weaving expanded during the twentieth century, with fine silk rugs becoming its signature product. Labels such as 'Qom silk' are used loosely in the trade and do not guarantee origin.
Quarters, bazaars and workshops
| Area | What is there |
|---|---|
| Shrine bazaar | Pilgrimage retail with carpets, prayer textiles and devotional objects. |
| Carpet dealers' street | Wholesale and workshop-linked rug trade away from the shrine crowd. |
What to look for on an object
- Silk rug — Cool to the touch, strong sheen that shifts with direction, and a very fine knot count; mercerised cotton mimics the sheen but feels different.
These notes are for learning to look, not for authentication. No description here certifies an object, its age or its origin.
Practical notes
- The shrine precinct has dress and access rules; craft shopping is mostly in the surrounding streets.
- Silk claims are worth testing: ask to see the fringe and the reverse.
- Workshop addresses, bazaar hours and market days change; confirm locally before travelling.
Season: Autumn to spring; summer is very hot.
Used in these crafts
A hand-knotted pile textile woven across Iran in city workshops, village looms and pastoral camps, distinguished by regional structure, palette and design vocabulary.
The workshop carpet tradition of Tabriz in East Azerbaijan, characterised by drawn cartoons, a distinctive hook-knife weaving method and a wide range of fineness grades.
Iranian jewellery ranges from gold and gem-set court ornaments to silver tribal adornment, often combining enamel, turquoise, pearls and coloured stones.