About Kerman Rugs / Kirman Rugs

Kerman is both a city and capitol of the Kerman Province in southern central Iran. Many of the districts of Kerman city are surrounded by mountains, while the northern region is located in desert area. After the overthrow of the Qajar in the 1790’s, the new and current city of Kerman was rebuilt northwest of the old.

Persian Kerman rugs and textile weavings are easily traced back to the 16th century, and have been referenced as far back as the late 13th century.

A great surge in population and expansion of Kerman transpired during the Safavid Dynasty, which produced among today’s most well known examples of Persian rugs known for masterpieces dating more than 500 years past. Kerman also was a main producer during the great weaving period of the 19th century venerating Safavid-period revival of rug production. For much of its rich history in Persian rug weaving, Kerman has been well known as one of the oldest producers of highly decorative and intricate workshop style Persian rugs and carpets.

Persian Kerman rugs are often curvilinear in motif and sub-categorized into four main types: Kerman, Kermanshah (commonly of the 19th century), Lavar Kerman (from the area of Ravar Kerman commonly 19th & very early 20th centuries) and American and or European Kerman rugs; Kerman rugs with European & Baroque influence of post WWI Western decorative taste (commonly of the early 20th century).

Kerman is also known as having among the longer producing rug manufacturers of the 19th and 20th centuries including Castelli, Costigian, and Dilmaghani. These producers contributed to the important and historic tie of 19th and 20th century Kerman rug production. Quality Kerman rug producers of the 20th century include Arjomand, Dilmaghani & Tabrizchi.

Alternate spellings: Kerman, Kirman.

Including Kerman rug types such as: American Kerman, Arjomand Kerman, Crown Kerman, European Kerman, Kerman rugs, Kermanshah, Laver Kerman (Raver), Tabrizchi Kerman.