Local Geography and History of Elam Carpets and Rugs

Originating from one of the oldest cities in the world, these Elam rugs and carpets portray tradition and culture.  Hand woven around the Kurdistan Mountains in the western part of Iran, the makers of these beautiful floor coverings derive from nomads.  Living a semi-nomadic life in tribes or villages, they still live like their ancestors and practice the traditions and culture.

There are a number of tribes, including Senjabi, Herki, Jaffid and Gurani.  All of these small settlements as well as others contribute to the creation of Elam oriental carpets.  The district of Khamseh is where the majority of Elam Persian rugs are produced, creating a center for all of the other smaller villages.

Following the traditions of their ancestors, these floor coverings are beautiful and elegant.  Will almost every color available; there are a number of different grades in rug quality produced.  The hand woven quality ranges from dense to loosely knotted; this ensures that every rug and carpet are truly unique. 

The most common knotting technique used for the Elam runners and rugs is the asymmetrical Persian knot, the symmetrical Turkish knot is also used; although less frequently.  Using natural dyes for colors and shades, they can be anything from bold, lively tones to natural earth hues.  The use of many colors helps to create a rug that stands out among the rest with a unique look and texture.

Although there isn’t very much influence from the outside world, there is still a small change from the anchient traditions.  Some of the surrounding villages that have helped influence the Persian rugs are Arak, Kurdistan and Lorestan.  The semi-nomads that hand knot the rugs prefer the simple life to the complicated life style of the rest of the world which helps to keep out a large amount of change.