Traditional Red Kashan Rug
This traditional red Kashan rug was double hand knotted in Iran from lamb handspun wool and measures 408 x 294 cm. Its bright red field holds a navy outlined medallion, and a wide navy border with cream and red vines frames the whole rug.
The design of this traditional red Kashan rug
The layout is the classic Kashan pattern: a central medallion with matching corner pieces, set in a field of flowers and vines and framed by several borders. At the centre, a navy outlined medallion holds a smaller cream and blue grey shape. Smaller navy medallions with red centres sit above and below it, and each corner of the red field holds a cream piece with navy and blue detail.
Across the red field of this traditional red Kashan rug, flowers and vines in navy, blue, gold and cream fill every gap. The border is deep navy, carrying a band of cream and red vines and flower heads, with narrow blue and cream guard lines between the bands.
Kashan and its rugs
Kashan, in central Iran, is admired for its deep reds and navy blues, curving floral borders and a graceful central medallion.
Kashan rugs are usually finely knotted with the asymmetrical (Persian) knot, on a cotton foundation, with a short, dense pile that shows the detail clearly. This traditional red Kashan rug keeps the classic medallion layout in a warm, deep red field.
How this rug is made
Our records note double hand knotting, so each knot was tied by hand on a loom rather than made by machine. Lamb handspun wool gives the pile a soft hand, and the short, dense pile of a Kashan lets the small flower heads and vine outlines show clearly.
Hand knotting builds the red field and the navy outlines one colour at a time, which is why the edges of the medallion meet the field so cleanly. A traditional red Kashan rug of this size is a substantial piece to lift, so ask for help when you move it.
Sizing it for your room
At 408 x 294 cm this rug covers about 12.0 square metres, a size for a formal living room or a large dining room. A three-seat sofa of around 2.2 m leaves about 94 cm of rug showing past each end, so a sofa and two armchairs can all rest on the rug around a coffee table.
For dining, a table of about 240 x 100 cm for eight seats leaves roughly 84 cm of rug at each end and 97 cm along each side, enough for the chairs to slide back. A traditional red Kashan rug like this suits cream, ivory or pale timber floors, and it sits well with navy or grey furnishings.
Looking after your rug
Vacuum it on a suction-only setting, or with the beater bar switched off, so the brush does not pull at the knots. Turn it around every six to twelve months so sun and foot traffic wear it evenly. Blot spills with a clean white cloth and cold water rather than rubbing them in. When it needs a full clean, choose a cleaner who washes handmade rugs by hand.
Put a good underlay beneath it. It stops the rug sliding on timber or tiles, adds cushioning and takes some of the wear off the pile. Moths like wool in dark, quiet spots, such as the part of a rug under a sofa, so vacuum those areas often and lift the furniture now and then.
See it before you buy
Visit our showroom at 307 Penshurst St, North Willoughby, open every day from 11 am to 4:30 pm, to see the traditional red Kashan rug in person. If you would rather judge it in your own room, with your own light and furniture, book an in-home viewing and we will bring a selection to you.
Browse more Kashan Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Kashan rugs.
