Persian Carpet Patterns-Learn How to “Read” a Carpet (Rug Image, Patterns, Motifs, and Symbols Meaning)

By learning the meanings of Persian carpet patterns, you will be able to “read a rug” and understand what the weaver wants to tells us. The names of Persian rug patterns are derived from the city, village, or tribe where particular patterns were first woven or traded.

The most common motif for Persian rugs, especially the larger ones, is a large central medallion. Yet, even if two carpets have basically the same design, no two medallions are ever exactly the same. Some experts believe that the medallion designs stems from the very religious nature of the weavers and that their inspiration probably came from the artwork and patterns of domes of the mosques. Symbols and motifs in Persian Rugs.

Persian Carpet Patterns Classifications and Characteristics

1 – Historic Monuments & Islamic Buildings:
Inspired by tile-work, structure and geometric shapes of ancient buildings.
Some Sub Patterns:Sheikh Lotfollah, Mehrabi Kufi, Kabood Mosque,  Sheikh Safi Shrine, Zire Khaki

2 –  Shah Abbassi: A special flower, known as Shah Abbassi, set-off by other floral Persian rug patterns and leaves
Some Sub Patterns: Allover, Medallion,  Tree, Animal, Sheikh Safi, Embellished Shah Abbassi

3 – Spiral: Spiraling branches around leave. The end of each branch splits to resemble the jaws of a dragon
Some Sub Patterns: Allover Spiral, Interconnected Spiral, Broken Spiral, Medallion Spiral

4 – Allover: All parts of pattern are interconnect usually drawn without the designers hand ever being lifted
Some Sub Patterns: Khatai, Interconnected, Pomegranate Flower, Animal, Twisted Branch, Medallion

5 – Derivative: Patterns of neighboring regions Similar to Persian rug patterns originally woven in Persia
Some Sub Patterns: Afghani, Caucasian, Gobelin

6 – Interconnected (Bandi): A small piece of design is repeated and connected throughout the carpet.
Some Sub Patterns:Ivy, Katieh, mudbrick, diamond, Tree, Milk, Sugar, armlet, cedar, Bakhtiari, Majlessi, Rope

7 – Paisley: Head-bent paisley (common in Indian and Iranian patterns)
Some Sub Patterns: Tufted, Deer Horn, Termeh, Saraband, Kherghei, Isfahan Pencase, Kordestani, Eight-bush

8 – Tree: Distinctive for their close resemblance to natural tree forms
Some Sub Patterns: Animal, Green Field, Panel, Cedar, Vase

9 – Torkeman (Bokharas): Geometrical shapes & broken lines. (usu. derived from the weavers imagination, not a drawing)
Some Sub Patterns:Gabbeh, Yamouti, Comb, Ghazel Gos, Akhal, Four-Panel, Saddlebag, Spoon

10 – Hunting Ground: Life-like animals
Some Sub Patterns: Tree, Panel, Medallion, Allover

11 – Panel: Multisided panel motif
Some Sub Patterns: Spiral, Koran, Column

12 – European Flower: Original Persian designs with roses in light and dark colours
Some Sub Patterns: Rose, Bijar, Mostowfi, Panel, Bouquet, Rose and Nightingale

13 – Vase: A single large vase, or a smaller vase repeated throughout the carpet
Some Sub Patterns: Khatai, Two-Way, Mehrabi, Allover, Chain, Haji Khanom, Repeate, Scar Medallion, One-Way

14 – Intertwined Fish: Originally a product of nomadic tribes and enriched by modern designers. Intertwined fish.
Some Sub Patterns: Herat, Farahan, Beehive, Senneh, Kurdestan, Tiny, Fragmented

15 – Mehrab: Representation of the place in a mosque, where the prayer leader stands. Ornamented with pillars, chandeliers & floral persian rug patterns
Some Sub Patterns:Tree, Vase-Column, Chandelier, Vase, Landscape

16 – Striped (Moharramat): Repeated stripes running the length of the carpet, each stripe with it’s own motif and colour
Some Sub Patterns: Overall Pencase, Tiny Flower (one background colour, Paisley (multiple background colours)

17 – Geometrical: Lines, and geometrical shapes (polygons, etc.)
Some Sub Patterns: Connected panel, Medallion, Striped, Scarf Medallion, Plain Ground, Khatai, Star (Mosaic)

18 – Tribal: Oldest & most original Persian rug patterns. Simple creations of tribal imagination, inspired by natural surroundings
Some Sub Patterns: Heibatloo, Ghashghai Paisley, Afshari, Khatouni, Ardabil, Mazlaghan, Khamseh, Saveh, Tafresh

19 – Composites: A composite of two or more of the above patterns

Some Sub Patterns: Twisted Branch Medallion, Chanin Medallion, Interconnected Vase & Spiral, Green Field, etc