In India, we have grown up listening to the voices on the streets. It’s often the bells of the ice cream stall, the cries of sabzi wale or a metal rod hitting a steel wok to indicate that popcorn is here. On winter day breaks, among all those voices there was also one of a thick accented man, selling his pashmina shawls and Persian carpets. And after seeing the beauty of those threadworks, most would want to adorn their houses with those very colourful and vibrant rugs.
Kashmiri carpets are the loved pieces of artwork that are shared and loved in equal measures across the country. Famous for their intricate designs, fine craftsmanship, and luxurious materials these carpets hold the power to attenuate any space or corner. These Kashmiri carpets inherent in them the designs from across the mountains. Infact, a lot of them come from Iran, which today seems shaken from the tremors of the missile strikes.
The Iranian Heritage of the Kashmiri Carpets
Kashmiri carpets, originally influenced by 15th Century Persia, gained refinement through Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin’s introduction of Persian weavers to Kashmir. Known for their handmade, knotted construction, these carpets were historically documented by Akbar and enhanced by Jahangir’s Persian aesthetics. Their global recognition surged when exhibited at the 1851 Crystal Palace in London.
In the 16th Century, Iranian traders exchanged techniques with Kashmiri artisans, further enriching the craft. The 19th Century saw trade flourish under the Dogra empire, establishing Srinagar as a key hub for Persian merchants. This led to formalizing the export of Indo-Persian designs with the “House of Ali Shah” in 1869.
Now, Kashmiri carpets are essentially a “woven map” of Iran. Each technique that was native from the different parts of Iran got woven into the Kashmiri fabrics and got named after the place of its origin.
Carpets of Kashmir, Designed by Iranian cities.
Kashmir has been competing with Iranian carpets for centuries, replicating unique designs. Kashmiri carpets are now incomplete without these Iranian designs.
- Kermanshah
The Iranian city of Kermanshah was the birth place of these vibrant carpets which typically feature rich dense patterns with deep regional and cultural symbols. It also serves as the provincial capital and a vital cultural hub. Kermanshah is located at the foot of the Zagros Mountains. Their designs are vibrant, lasting color palettes utilizing natural dyes, including shades of ivory, navy blue, pink yarrow, and gold reflecting much of the city itself. Kermanshah carpets are infamous for using 100% of wool in its making.
Kermanshah has a rich Kurdish heritage, ancient Sassanid-era ruins like Taq-e Bostan, and the nearby Bisotun Inscription. It is a city of art and expression. It is also renowned as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and is famous for its delicious food variety.
- Kashan
The Kashan carpet is characterized by a central, often tear-drop-shaped, medallion and corner floral motifs, alongside intricate vine work. The pattern and design is local to the Iranian city Kashan in the Central District of Kashan County, located in the northern part of Isfahan province, Iran. Kashan is one of the oldest cities in Iran and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Kashan carpet is typically made from high-quality wool on a cotton foundation, though some antique examples feature silk. Their design uses traditional color palettes including deep reds (maroon) and navy blues, though cream, ivory, and soft blue shades are common.
- Tabriz
Tabriz, situated at the western end of Iran’s Silk Road trade route, has served as a crucial hub for commercial and cultural interactions. The late 19th-century creation of the Memorial School and the University of Tabriz played significant roles in promoting its cultural growth. The city is recognized as the origin of the “Tabriz School” of painting, which has notably influenced Iranian art across various dynasties.
Tabriz carpets are distinctive for their wide array of designs, including Mahi (Herati/fish), Tabriz Mahi, Central Medallion, and Pictorial scenes, often depicting hunting or floral motifs. They feature a rich color palette that blends navy blue, red, cream, and soft pastels. While cotton is typically used for the foundations, high-end versions are made of silk, with high-quality wool piles usually embellished with silk inlays to enhance intricate details. The high knot density and skilled craftsmanship contribute to the durability of Tabriz carpets, making them prized as heirloom pieces.
Additionally, Tabriz has a rich literary tradition, being home to famed Iranian writers and poets, from historical figures like Rumi to modern ones such as Mohammad-Hossein Shahriar, reflecting the city’s diverse cultural heritage shaped by its geographical and historical context.
- Khorasan
The historical region of Khorasan, located in the Iranian Plateau, spans several countries including parts of Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia. It is culturally significant as the birthplace of New Persian literature and home to early Iranian dynasties like the Tahirids and Samanids. Before the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, Khorasan served as the cultural capital of Persia, producing notable scholars such as Avicenna and Al-Khwarizmi, who significantly advanced mathematics and astronomy.
Khorasan carpets are distinguished by floral motifs, central medallions, and sometimes intricate small patterns, utilizing cochineal dye for vibrant reds and significant blue tones. They are often made from fine soft wool, occasionally featuring silk accents.
- Isfahan
Isfahan, the capital of Isfahan province and County in Iran, is a significant city located 440 kilometers south of Tehran, with a population of approximately 2,238,000, making it the third-most populous city in the country. Historically flourishing between the 9th and 18th centuries, it became the capital during the Safavid Empire under Abbas the Great.
The carpets therefore showcase a central medallion inspired by Safavid architecture, such as the Shah Lutf Allah mosque. Renowned for its Persian–Muslim architecture, Isfahan features grand boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, tiled mosques, and minarets, leading to the saying ‘Isfahan is half the world.’ Inspired by which, these designs frequently feature swirling vines, arabesques, and detailed florals inspired by local landmarks such as the Ali-Qapu Palace. Some pieces are known for intentional, subtle design inconsistencies that enhance their uniqueness.Traditionally feature vibrant or, in modern pieces, more subdued, pastel shades, including ivory, red, blue, indigo, and green are used in these carpets.
- Hamadan
Hamadan, the capital of Hamadan Province in Iran, is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, located at the foothills of the Alvand Mountains in western Iran. The city stands as a cultural and artistic hub, shaped by Persian, Kurdish, and tribal traditions.
Hamadan’s carpets are a testament to this rich heritage, predominantly featuring bold geometric patterns, distinguishing them from the curvilinear elegance of Isfahan carpets. Typically adorned with central medallions, repeating motifs, or all-over designs inspired by the local aesthetic and cultural symbols, these rugs effectively blend history with craftsmanship characterized by slight asymmetries. Their color schemes often showcase deep reds, earthy browns, indigo blues, ivory, and occasional hues of green or black, sourced from natural dyes.
- Ardabil
Ardabil, the capital of Ardabil Province in northwestern Iran, is a historic city renowned for its cool climate and mountainous surrounds, with a population of around 600,000. It became prominent during the Safavid period as a vital religious and cultural center, closely linked to Shah Ismail I, the dynasty’s founder. The Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a key aspect of the city’s identity.
The Ardabil Carpet is famous for 16th-century Persian carpet, created in 1539–1540 for the shrine of Shaykh Safi al-Din in Ardabil, Iran, during the Safavid dynasty. It is one of the world’s oldest, largest, and most intricate Islamic carpets, featuring a central medallion with lamp motifs and intricate floral designs
- Mashhad
Mashhad, located in northeastern Iran, is the second-most populous city in the country. Historically a small village known as Sanabad, it grew significantly by the 9th century, becoming a key site on the ancient Silk Road. The city is named after the Imam Reza shrine, a major pilgrimage destination for Shia Muslims. Mashhad is also linked to the poet Ferdowsi and played a significant role during the Mongol period. It served as the capital of the Afsharid dynasty and has produced notable literary figures and artists. In 2009, it was declared “The spiritual capital of Iran” by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mashad rugs are characterised by their intricate designs, which typically feature a central medallion surrounded by floral patterns, birds, and animals. The medallion may be circular, oval, or hexagonal, and it is often adorned with arabesques and palmettes. The field of the rug is usually filled with intricate floral patterns, including the Herati, Shah Abbasi, and Islimi motifs.
- Shiraz.
A Shiraz carpet was influenced by settled tribal weavers, featuring designs reminiscent of Qashqai, Khamseh, Afshar, Abadeh, and Luri styles. Generally larger and coarser than tribal rugs, Shiraz carpets utilize the Persian (asymmetrical) knot and are not finely knotted. Unique motifs include depictions of nightingales, symbolizing contentment. The Basseri tribe’s rugs are particularly noted for vibrant colors, with orange being characteristic of their designs.
The city of Shiraz, is celebrated for its literary heritage and gardens. Notable landmarks include the marble Tomb of Hafez set in a garden and the Mausoleum of Saadi, which contains the 13th-century writer’s mosaic-tiled tomb. Additionally, Shiraz serves as a gateway to Persepolis, the site of the 6th-century B.C. capital featuring grand gateways, columns, and friezes.
- Kirman
The Kirman or Kerman rugs have a wide variety of motifs to offer, with the Damask Rose being the most popular motif, especially in “Sabzikar Ravar” and “Gol Sorkhi” (Red Rose) designs. Kirman was a Sasanian province in Late Antiquity, which corresponds to the present-day province of Kerman.
Other notable motifs of the region include “Ghab Ghora’ani,” “Setooni,” and “Lachak-Toranj.” Antique carpets often feature the Toranj motif in the borders. The Lavar or Ravar Kerman carpets, known for their fine weave and medallion motifs, are produced in Ravar and usually bear the weaver’s signature. Vase carpets from the 16th and 17th centuries display stylized flowers alongside vases, while 18th-century Kerman carpets often incorporate lattice patterns. Modern Kerman rugs for western markets typically feature pastel colors and may include western and traditional motifs.
The echoes of the blasts
Since the US – Israel joint attacks on Iran’s Elementary school, the strikes have been continuous and ongoing. It was in Eid and much after that we saw people in the valley mourning and donating for Iran. It is not just the humanitarian ancestry that binds the two together but also the same skills and threads which gave ocuppacion and fame. Many of these major cities hold major carpet centres which the Kashmiri’s owe their skill and talents to, have been affected by the Iran-U.S.-Israel hostilities.
“An Ardabil design carpet woven by Kashmiri artisans and displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in the U.K. is a testimony to the relationship with Iranian carpets. We have been exporting Ardabil, Kashan and Tabrizi designs produced in Kashmir since our great-grandfathers set up the ‘House of Ali Shah’ in 1869. We have the design presets with us,” said Iqbal Shah of the Artisane Art and Cultural Centre. ”Many Iranian designs were improvised over time and renamed after local artisans, too, like Safdhar Kashan,” (Via. The Hindu)
While some bonds are of blood and others of heart, Iran and Kashmir share a beautiful bond that is of thread, silk and wool.
Aditi Shah Kunjam. An aspiring psychologist, storyteller and poet from the Gond tribal community. Exploring emotion, identity, and culture through a creative lens. I write about art as experience—where aesthetics meet feeling, feminism, and everyday life. Observing deeply, creating thoughtfully, and finding meaning in the details.
