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The Arteverk Rug Encyclopedia · Weave Guide
If a Heriz is built to be used and a Bijar to last forever, a Kerman is made to be admired. The most painterly of the great Persian weaves, it turns a floor into a flowering garden — graceful medallions, vases of blossoms, even whole pictorial scenes. Here is what a Kerman rug actually is, its history, and how to choose one.
A Kerman rug is a finely hand-knotted wool rug from the city of Kerman in southeast Iran — one of Persia's great weaving centers, where 19th-century master designers drew like painters. It is the most painterly of the great Persian weaves: graceful central medallions floating in flowering fields, vase and tree-of-life motifs, even whole pictorial garden scenes, closely knotted in soft wool. Its palette is wide and sophisticated, from soft rose, ivory and pale blue to deep madder red and indigo. The finest grades — sometimes called Kermanshah, or Lavar (Ravar) Kerman for the very best — are among the most collectible of all Persian antiques. The Kerman rugs we carry are genuine Persian pieces, hand-knotted in Iran, spanning new weaves, semi-antiques, vintage rugs and genuine antique masterpieces; to be sure of one, check the page for Origin: Iran and the Condition.
The garden city of Persian weaving
Kerman, a city in the high desert of southeast Iran, has woven carpets for centuries, and by the 19th century its workshops were producing some of the most refined and inventive rugs in all of Persia. Where other centers favored repeating geometry, Kerman's master designers drew like painters — open medallions floating in flowering fields, vases spilling blossoms, the tree of life, even pictorial panels and garden scenes.
That artistry made Kerman a favorite of Western collectors, and the finest pieces — sometimes sold under the older trade name Kermanshah, or as Lavar (Ravar) Kerman for the very best grade — are prized museum-quality antiques today. A genuine antique Kerman is one of the most collectible of all Persian rugs.
What makes a rug a "Kerman"
Lavish floral design
Graceful central medallions in flowering fields, vase and tree-of-life motifs, even pictorial scenes — curvilinear and painterly.
A wide, elegant palette
From soft rose, ivory and pale blue to deep madder red and indigo — Kerman color is sophisticated and beautifully balanced.
Fine, refined weave
Closely knotted in soft wool; the finest grades (Lavar / Kermanshah) reach exceptional detail and drawing.
One of a kind
Each is hand-knotted by hand, so no two are identical — and genuine antiques carry the soul of real age.
The genuine article — woven in Iran
A true Persian Kerman
Kerman is another case where the famous name and the real origin agree. The Kerman rugs we carry are genuine Persian pieces, hand-knotted in Iran — spanning brand new weaves, semi-antique and vintage rugs with softened color, and genuine antique masterpieces (including pieces in the Kermanshah tradition).
As always, the rug's own record tells the truth: each product page states the Origin (look for Iran) and the Condition. With Kerman, you are buying the real Persian article — there is no need to dress it up as anything else.
Six in-stock Kerman rugs
From new floral weaves to genuine antique masterpieces — each a single, hand-knotted piece.
The Kermanshah Court
Genuine antique
The Dove Meridian
Genuine Persian
The Pearl Dune
Vintage Persian
The Crimson Oasis
Vintage Persian
The Honeyed Trove
Genuine antique
The Pearl Sojourn
Vintage PersianHow to choose a Kerman rug
Choose it for elegance
A Kerman brings a room grace and a sense of occasion — it is the rug for a formal living room, a dining room or a study you want to feel collected and timeless. The flowing floral design rewards a closer look without ever feeling heavy.
Decide on age and palette
A new Kerman gives you crisp, saturated color; a vintage or antique piece brings softened, sophisticated tones and the quiet authority of age. Both are genuine — choose by the look you love, and check the Condition field so you know exactly which you're getting.
Size it to anchor the room
Most Kermans are room-sized and up; you'll also find runners and accent pieces. See our rug size guide for room-by-room diagrams, and because each is one of a kind, tell us your size and we'll hand-pick the closest pieces.
Caring for a Kerman rug
A fine hand-knotted wool Kerman — especially an antique — rewards gentle care: vacuum softly with the pile, rotate twice a year, use a rug pad, and blot spills immediately rather than rubbing. Have finer and older pieces hand-washed, never machine- or steam-cleaned. Our full rug care guide has the details.
Why buy your Kerman from Arteverk
- Genuine Persian. Our Kermans are woven in Iran — origin and age stated on every page, including genuine antique masterpieces.
- From new to antique. New floral weaves, semi-antiques, vintage pieces and collectible antiques — all hand-knotted, all one of a kind.
- A three-generation rug family, since 1970. We source and curate these genuine Persian pieces and sell them direct — the collection the trade trusted for fifty years, now straight to you.
- See it before you commit. Book a live video walkthrough from anywhere.
- Nationwide shipping, free. See any rug up close on a live video call — and we ship across the country, free.
Common questions about Kerman rugs
What is a Kerman rug?
A Kerman rug is a finely hand-knotted wool rug from the city of Kerman in southeast Iran — one of Persia's great weaving centers, famous for lavish, curvilinear floral designs: central medallions in flowering fields, vase and tree-of-life motifs, and rich pictorial borders. The Kerman rugs we carry are genuine Persian pieces, hand-knotted in Iran, from new weaves to collectible antiques.
Are Kerman rugs Persian?
Yes — Kerman is a genuine Persian weaving city, and the Kerman rugs we carry are hand-knotted in Iran. Each rug's real origin and age are stated on its page (look for Origin: Iran), spanning new pieces, semi-antiques, vintage rugs and genuine antique masterpieces.
What is a Kermanshah or Lavar Kerman rug?
Kermanshah is an older trade name for fine Kerman rugs (it does not mean the separate city of Kermanshah). Lavar (or Ravar) Kerman refers to the finest grade, from the town of Ravar north of Kerman. Both describe especially refined, finely knotted Kerman pieces.
What do Kerman rugs look like?
Kermans are the most painterly of Persian rugs — graceful central medallions in a flowering field, all-over floral and vase designs, even pictorial scenes, in palettes that range from soft rose, ivory and blue to deep madder red. The drawing is curvilinear and elegant.
Can I see a Kerman rug before I buy?
Yes — we'll walk you through any piece on a live video call, and every rug ships free with easy returns.
Find your Kerman
Browse our genuine Persian Kerman rugs — new to antique — or tell us your size and colors and we'll hand-pick a few for you.
