Kazak rugs stem from the Caucasus mountains which span modern-day Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The term refers to a wide range of rugs produced by weavers living in the regions' alpine villages, so stylistically there's quite a lot of variation. As a melting pot of culture, you'll notice a blend of Persian motifs, geometric Turkish patterns and Russian-inspired floral designs. Rug-making techniques were honed and passed down here, making Kazak rugs some of the most hard-wearing and ideal for high traffic areas.

Unlike most of our rugs, the name Sumac refers not to the tribe or region, but the style and weaving technique. These flat-woven rugs have no pile at all, making them more like tapestries or kilims, albeit much stronger. The wool foundation is wrapped with colorful weft threads to form the design and provide additional support. It's these weft threads that you can see on the ragged underside of the rug - they were intentionally left loose to provide extra cushioning and warmth. The tribal, geometric designs are either medallions or all over patterns, with the ancient dragon style being the most coveted.

Loosely translated, Karabagh means 'black garden', in reference to the rugs' solid, dark fields and decorative folk motifs. Rug weaving here dates back to the 13th century, and it was long considered an essential skill, especially for women who would weave one as part of their marriage dowries. The sense of story-telling feels so prominent, with such a vast range of designs, many of which were woven from imagination.

The Shirwan region is on the western coast of the Caspian sea, and has long been a creative hub for rug weaving. The name is Persian for cypress tree, a symbol representing eternal youth and life beyond death. You'll often spot the tree of life in their designs, along with tribal motifs and stylised florals, all in natural, vibrant dyes derived from plants and insects.

Tabriz became the market center of Persia due to its prime position on the silk road and subsequent links to Western commerce. The city is known to be the center of antique rugs in Northwest Persia, with a wide range of patterns and styles. Most of ours feature the mahi design which looks like a little curved leaf but is actually a fish, inspired by the Persian garden.

Not far from Tabriz is Mount Sabalan, where you'll find the town of Heriz. These rugs need no introduction, especially as far as the design is concerned, but they're actually just as special on the inside as they are out... legend has it, their durability is down to the deposit of copper beneath the mountain. Traces of this can be found in the sheep's drinking water, which, combined with the high altitude, makes their wool more resilient and ideal for areas with lots of footfall.

Karajah is a village just outside of Heriz, hence the visual similarities. It's said to be the oldest of all rug-weaving regions and is known for its hardwearing, all-wool carpets. Typically, the pattern comprises a coral-colored palette with three geometric medallions; two eight-pointed stars and a central medallion with latch-hooked contours (the white hooks surrounding navy blue in this case).

Serapis are a Heriz-region rug, originating from the nearby village of Serab. Although visually they're quite similar to Heriz rugs, they're known to have even finer weaves and more open, spacious designs. The weavers worked with high quality Karakul sheep wool, mixing some of it with brewed plants and mineral dyes, while leaving other areas untreated to achieve the classic cream and camel accents which are quintessential in Serapi rugs.

The town of Bijar has a long-established history for weaving hard-wearing rugs, so much so, they're often dubbed the "iron rugs of Persia". The robust rugs involve a unique weaving technique, whereby the weft strands are compressed tightly between rows of knots, and beaten with a heavy comb. In contrast, the patterns tend to be very intricate with fine floral motifs and geometric designs in softer, natural hues.

Senneh rugs are known for their meticulous weaving and unusual warp techniques, comprising high quality mountain wool on a single-wefted foundation. Despite being soft to the touch on top, the tightly-spun wool and compact knot technique means the foundation is rougher than most, but also incredibly hard-wearing. Traditional patterns include paisley (botehs), rosette-linked trellises (minakhani) and fish (herati).

Hamadan is one of the oldest cities in the world and became familiar to many traders thanks to its spot on the silk road. Stylistically the rugs tend to vary quite a bit, as 'Hamadan' is a collective term for most rugs made in the region. One unifying feature is the prominence of dark blue, achieved using natural indigo dye. They're a great "every day" rug with robust weaves that can handle a lot of foot traffic.

One of the most celebrated styles of Hamadan rugs is the Malayer, hence why they're often referred to as 'Hamadan Malayers'. They're known for having intricate all-over trellis patterns or dominant central medallions surrounded by detailed borders. One of our favorite features is that their deep color palettes are often offset by lighter ivory accents to create contrast.

The Farahan region is most famous for its pomegranates, pistachios and of course, rugs. So much so, they're often considered on par with Tabriz and Serapi carpets of the highest quality. Typically, the pattern comprises a symmetrical orientation of single flower motifs surrounded by caterpillars and butterflies to form small herati medallions. They're known for having fine yet incredibly durable weaves that can be passed down from generation to generation.

Many of our Mahal rugs are on the larger side, which is common for carpets from this region. You'll recognize them for the stylized floral elements and earthy, indigo and terracotta hues. The weavers in Mahallat typically used high-quality wool on a cotton warp and weft, for a sturdy long-lasting foundation. Their distinct style and durability is a testament to the skilled artisans who wove them.

Khorasan rugs were crafted from locally sourced wool, known for its durability and plush texture, often resulting in a higher pile, hence why you won't find too many of them at Frances Loom. As with most Persian rugs, the central medallions symbolize unity and balance, but are typically more curved and floral, unlike the geometric medallions on most of our rugs.

Historically, the Bakhtiari tribe led a nomadic lifestyle embodied in their annual migration across the Zagros mountains. Their nature-inspired designs include the popular gridded garden pattern (known as the khesti), the cypress tree and the vase with overflowing flowers (a symbol of abundance). It's thought the harsh winters and high altitude conditioned the Bakhtiari people to be resilient, a quality emulated by their hardy, high-quality rugs.

The history of rug weaving in Shiraz can be traced back to the 16th century, and their techniques and knowledge have been passed down from generation to generation. Stylistically, the rugs are renowned for their tribal designs and rustic charm, reflecting the rich nomadic heritage of the region with the inclusion of animals, plants and stick figures. The knot density of Shiraz rugs is usually lower than those from other regions, giving them a more relaxed feel that still stands the test of time.

The Afshar tribe migrated to Iran in the 11th century, and settled in the southern regions. Their distinctive rug designs are known for geometric patterns characterised by a central medallion and oversized corner details. Nature-inspired elements like paisley (representing leaves) and stylised bird motifs can often be spotted in these rugs, and the palettes are typically warm and earthy, reflecting the surrounding landscape. The reds were achieved with madder root and the deep blues with indigo plants, while light brown accents are often undyed camel hair.

The Turkish (formerly Anatolian) town of Oushak is the birthplace of many of our favorite rugs. Despite being hundreds of miles from Persia, they still have some visual similarities like central medallions and angular, large-scale floral motifs. However, Oushaks are usually more spacious; allowing the patterns to stand out against the solid field. They tend to have a silky, luminous appearance and softer muted palettes, created with natural dyes like cinammon and saffron.

Turkoman rugs have a long history dating back to the 5th century AD. The earliest known examples come from the Sogdian period, when they served as floor coverings, tent decorations, and saddlebags. These rugs were originally woven by the nomadic tribes of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and northern Afghanistan. Over time, the art of weaving spread throughout the region, resulting in the diverse range of styles and techniques seen in Turkoman rugs today.

The Qashqai tribe would typically reside further south in the Zagros mountains. Each winter they would follow their flocks from the summer pastures in the highlands north of Shiraz, to the warmer winter grazing lands almost 500km to the south. Their goats provide milk, cheese and meat, while the sheep (shorn only once a year) produce tough, long-fibred wool that's ideal for rug weaving.

Baluch rugs were woven by the nomadic Baluchi tribes using a combination of hardy natural materials such as cotton, wool, goat and camel hair. Their designs usually comprise a singular rectangular or hexagonal pattern repeated throughout. You're unlikely to see many Baluch rugs on Frances Loom simply because they're often too red for us. However, whenever we find one in softer coral or camel hues, they tend to be some of our absolute favorites.