The Arteverk Rug Encyclopedia · Weave Guide
Love the soft, open, scrolling look of a Ziegler? Then you already love a Sultanabad — because Sultanabad is where that look was born. The original of one of the most beloved styles in the rug world, it is calm, large-scale and endlessly liveable. Here is what a Sultanabad rug actually is, how it became the parent of the Ziegler, and how to choose one.
A Sultanabad rug is a hand-knotted wool rug in the design tradition of Sultanabad — today's Arak, a weaving region in west-central Persia. It is known for large, open arabesque scrolls and stylized florals spread loosely across the field within a generous border, in soft, often vegetable-dyed color — rust, ivory, soft blue, grey and madder red. That calm, architectural openness is its hallmark and what makes it so easy to live with. It is the parent of the famous Ziegler and Mahal looks: when the firm Ziegler & Co. set up production here in the 1880s, the style took the firm's name — so a Sultanabad and a Ziegler are, for practical purposes, the same thing. The Sultanabad rugs we carry are predominantly new pieces hand-knotted in Afghanistan in that tradition (a few woven elsewhere in the same style); each page states the real Origin and Construction rather than relying on the design name.
Where the Sultanabad — and the Ziegler — began
Sultanabad was a commercial weaving city founded in the early 19th century in the Arak region of west-central Persia (the city is called Arak today). Its surrounding villages had long woven sturdy, decorative rugs — graded as Mahal and Mushkabad by quality — and by the late 1800s the region was producing carpets for export on a large scale.
The turning point came when the Manchester firm Ziegler & Co. set up production in Sultanabad in the 1880s and worked with local weavers to adapt the classic designs for Western interiors — opening out the field, softening the palette. Those rugs became so famous that the whole look took the firm's name. So when you hear "Ziegler," the deeper truth is "Sultanabad" — the design tradition that made it possible. For the full story of that style, read our Ziegler guide.
What makes a rug a "Sultanabad"
Open, large-scale design
Big arabesque scrolls and stylized florals spread loosely across the field — calm, architectural and easy to live with.
Soft, muted color
Rust, ivory, soft blue, grey and madder red — often vegetable-dyed, gentle rather than loud.
Hand-knotted wool
Tied by hand in hard-wearing wool, with a comfortable, even pile built for decades of use.
One of a kind
Each is dyed and knotted by hand, so no two are identical.
Where ours are made — honestly
The Persian design, hand-knotted today
The Sultanabad design is Persian — from the Arak region. The Sultanabad rugs we carry are predominantly new pieces hand-knotted in Afghanistan in that tradition, plus the occasional genuine antique Persian Mahal from the Sultanabad district itself, vegetable-dyed and one of a kind.
We never lean on the design name to imply something a rug isn't. Every product page states the real Origin and Construction, so you always know exactly what you're buying — a genuine hand-knotted wool rug in the Sultanabad tradition.
Six in-stock Sultanabad rugs
From new Afghan-made weaves to a genuine antique Persian Mahal — each a single, hand-knotted, one-of-a-kind piece.
The Terracotta Tale
Genuine antique
The Juniper Reach
One of a kind
The Madder Bazaar
One of a kind
The Clove Thicket
One of a kind
The Hazel Filigree
One of a kind
The Madder Trellis
One of a kindHow to choose a Sultanabad rug
It's the easy-to-live-with one
The open design and soft palette make a Sultanabad one of the most versatile rugs you can buy — it settles into modern, transitional and traditional rooms alike, and the muted color won't fight your furniture. It is the same easy elegance that made the Ziegler famous.
Match it by ground color
Ivory and grey grounds keep a room light; rust, red and blue add warmth and depth. Because each is one of a kind, see the real colors before you commit — request photos in your light, or book a viewing.
Size it generously
The open design rewards a generous size — large enough that your seating's front legs rest on it. See our rug size guide, and because each is one of a kind, tell us your size and we'll hand-pick the closest pieces.
Caring for a Sultanabad rug
A hand-knotted wool Sultanabad ages beautifully with simple care: vacuum gently with the pile, rotate twice a year, use a rug pad, and blot spills immediately rather than rubbing. Our full rug care guide covers everyday care, spills and storage.
Why buy your Sultanabad from Arteverk
- Honest about origin. The Persian Sultanabad design, hand-knotted in Afghanistan today — origin and construction on every page.
- Genuinely one of a kind. Each Sultanabad is a single hand-knotted, vegetable-dyed piece. When it sells, it is gone.
- A three-generation rug family, since 1970. We make our own hand-knotted lines with master Afghan weavers, finish them at our facilities in Lahore, and sell 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 Sultanabad rugs
What is a Sultanabad rug?
A Sultanabad rug is a hand-knotted wool rug in the tradition of Sultanabad — today's Arak, in west-central Iran — known for large-scale, open arabesque and floral designs in soft, often vegetable-dyed color. It is the parent of the famous Ziegler and Mahal looks. The Sultanabad rugs we carry are predominantly new pieces hand-knotted in Afghanistan in that tradition.
What is the difference between a Sultanabad and a Ziegler rug?
They are the same family. Sultanabad is the design tradition — the open, large-scale arabesque style from the Sultanabad/Arak region of Persia. Ziegler refers to the rugs the firm Ziegler & Co. commissioned there in the 1880s, which is why the look is often called Ziegler. A Sultanabad rug and a Ziegler rug are, for practical purposes, the same thing.
Where are Sultanabad rugs made today?
The Sultanabad design comes from the Arak region of Persia. The Sultanabad rugs we carry are predominantly hand-knotted in Afghanistan in that tradition, with a few woven elsewhere in the same style. We always state each rug's real origin on its page rather than relying on the design name.
What do Sultanabad rugs look like?
Sultanabad rugs feature large, open arabesque scrolls and stylized florals spread loosely across the field, framed by a generous border, in soft, muted color — rust, ivory, soft blue, grey and madder red. The open, calming design is exactly why the look is so loved.
Can I see a Sultanabad 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 Sultanabad
Browse our hand-knotted, vegetable-dyed Sultanabad rugs, or tell us your size and colors and we'll hand-pick a few for you.
