The Arteverk Rug Encyclopedia · Weave Guide
If there is one name that stands for the very best of Persian weaving, it is Tabriz. From the workshops of this northwest Iranian city came some of the greatest carpets ever made — and to this day, "a fine Tabriz" is shorthand for craftsmanship at its peak. Here is what a Tabriz rug actually is, the history behind it, and how to choose one.
A Tabriz rug is a finely hand-knotted rug from Tabriz, a historic weaving city in northwest Iran (Persia) near the Caucasus, whose Safavid-era royal workshops produced some of the greatest carpets ever made. It is the benchmark for fine Persian city weaving: celebrated for exceptional knot density (measured in raj), refined medallion-and-corner designs, the curving Mahi (fish) pattern of rosettes flanked by fish-shaped leaves, and the luminous interplay of fine wool and silk in balanced, formal color. What distinguishes a Tabriz from another Persian medallion rug like a Kashan is that fineness and the Mahi signature, often with a touch of silk sheen. The Tabriz rugs we carry are predominantly genuine Persian pieces hand-knotted in Iran, spanning new, semi-antique, vintage and genuine antique, with a few Afghan-made pieces labeled as such. To know you're getting the real article, look for Origin: Iran and the Condition stated on every product page.
A weaving city at the summit of Persian art
Tabriz sits in the far northwest of Iran, near the Caucasus, and has been a center of trade and culture for a thousand years — a hub on the Silk Road and, for a time, a Persian capital. Its golden age came under the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century, when royal workshops turned carpet weaving into a courtly art and produced masterpieces that still set the standard for the medium.
The most famous survivor of that age is the Ardabil Carpet (dated 1539–40), associated with the shrine of Sheikh Safi al-Din in nearby Ardabil — today one of the most treasured carpets in the world, split between the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and Los Angeles. That heritage is exactly why a Tabriz commands such respect: the city has been weaving at the highest level, with only short interruptions, for centuries. (You will see the name echoed in our Sheikh Safi design.)
What makes a rug a "Tabriz"
The Mahi (fish) design
Tabriz's signature: a small rosette flanked by curving, fish-shaped leaves, repeated across the field — the Mahi or Herati pattern — alongside classic central-medallion layouts.
Exceptional fineness
Measured in raj (knot density), Tabriz rugs reach very high counts, which lets the weavers draw crisp, detailed curves few other looms can match.
Wool, often with silk
Many Tabriz rugs combine fine wool with silk highlights — or are woven entirely in silk — giving the pattern a luminous sheen and razor-sharp detail.
Balanced, formal color
From soft ivory, rose and pale blue (the famous Haji Jalili palette) to deep madder and indigo, always composed and elegant rather than loud.
Mahi, Sheikh Safi, Haji Jalili — the Tabriz family
Because Tabriz has so long a tradition, its rugs carry a vocabulary of named designs and workshops. You will see them on our product pages:
- Mahi / Herati — the curving fish-and-rosette repeat, the most recognizable Tabriz pattern.
- Sheikh Safi — designs in the lineage of the great Ardabil shrine carpet: a sunburst medallion with pendant lamps.
- Haji Jalili — after a celebrated 19th-century Tabriz master, known for soft, light palettes and refined drawing.
- Safikhani & Tabataei — named for famous workshops and design families within the Tabriz tradition.
- Fine / masterpiece grades — the highest-raj pieces, often in wool and silk, woven to museum standards.
The genuine article — woven in Iran
A true Persian Tabriz
This is the rare case where the famous name and the real origin line up. The Tabriz rugs we carry are predominantly genuine Persian pieces, hand-knotted in Iran — and they span the full range of age: brand new fine weaves, semi-antique and vintage pieces with gentle patina, and genuine antique Tabriz with decades or more of history.
As always, the rug's own record tells the truth: each product page states the Origin (look for Iran) and the Condition. A small number of pieces are Afghan-made rugs in the Tabriz tradition, and those are labeled Origin: Afghanistan — never passed off as Persian. With Tabriz, the genuine article is the rule, not the exception.
Six in-stock Tabriz rugs
From new fine wool-and-silk to genuine antique Persian — each a single, hand-knotted piece.
The Sheikh Safi
Masterpiece
The Pomegranate Loom
Genuine antique
The Henna Reverie
Genuine Persian
The Pearl Solstice
Genuine Persian
The Cedar Bazaar
Vintage Persian
The Sea-glass Cipher
Vintage PersianHow to choose a Tabriz rug
Decide on age and material
A new fine Tabriz in wool and silk gives you crisp pattern and a gentle sheen; a semi-antique or antique Tabriz brings softened color and the quiet authority of age. Both are genuine — choose by the look you love and the story you want underfoot. Check the Condition field so you know exactly which you're getting.
It is a centerpiece
A Tabriz medallion is made to be the focal point of a formal living room, dining room or study. Give it room to be seen, with furniture's front legs on the rug and the medallion clear of the seating.
Size it generously
Most fine Tabriz rugs are room-sized and up, ideal for living and dining rooms; you'll also find runners and accent pieces. See our rug size guide for room-by-room diagrams, and because each piece is one of a kind, tell us your size and we'll hand-pick the closest options.
Tabriz vs Kashan — two crowns of Persian weaving
Both are fine Persian city rugs with a central medallion, and both are formal and refined. The differences are real:
| Tabriz | Kashan | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Tabriz, northwest Iran | Kashan, central Iran |
| Signature | Mahi (fish) repeat; medallion & corners | Medallion in a dense all-over floral field |
| Material | Frequently wool & silk; very high raj | Fine wool, sometimes kork wool |
| Palette | Soft ivory/rose/blue to deep madder | Deep madder red, indigo, ivory |
Love crisp fineness and a touch of silk sheen? Lean Tabriz. Prefer a richer, denser floral field? Read our Kashan guide. Both are genuine Persian; both are heirlooms.
Caring for a Tabriz rug
Fine Tabriz rugs — especially wool-and-silk and antique pieces — deserve gentle care: vacuum softly with the pile (no beater bar), rotate twice a year, use a rug pad, and blot spills immediately rather than rubbing. Have them professionally hand-washed rather than machine- or steam-cleaned. Our full rug care guide has the details.
Why buy your Tabriz from Arteverk
- Genuine Persian. Our Tabriz rugs are predominantly woven in Iran — origin and age stated on every page, so you know exactly what you're buying.
- From new to antique. Fine new wool-and-silk pieces, semi-antiques, and genuine antique Tabriz — 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 Tabriz rugs
What is a Tabriz rug?
A Tabriz rug is a finely hand-knotted rug from Tabriz, a historic weaving city in northwest Iran (Persia). Tabriz is one of the most revered names in the rug world — its weavers are known for exceptional knot density, refined medallion-and-corner designs, the curving Mahi (fish) pattern, and the luminous interplay of wool and silk. It is the benchmark for fine Persian city weaving.
Are Tabriz rugs Persian?
Yes — Tabriz is a genuine Persian weaving city, and the Tabriz rugs we carry are predominantly hand-knotted in Iran, across new, semi-antique, vintage and antique pieces. A few are Afghan-made rugs in the Tabriz tradition. Each rug's real origin and age are stated on its page (look for Origin: Iran).
What is the Mahi or Herati design on a Tabriz rug?
Mahi means "fish" in Persian. The Mahi (or Herati) design is a small rosette flanked by curving, fish-shaped leaves, repeated across the field — Tabriz's most iconic pattern. You'll also see classic central-medallion layouts and other sub-styles such as Sheikh Safi, Safikhani and Tabataei, named for famous designs and workshops.
What does "raj" mean and why are Tabriz rugs so fine?
Raj is the traditional Tabriz measure of knot density — the higher the raj, the finer and more detailed the rug. Tabriz weavers achieve very high knot counts, often combining wool with silk highlights (or full silk) for crispness and sheen. That fineness is why Tabriz produced some of history's greatest carpets.
What is the difference between a Tabriz and a Kashan rug?
Both are fine Persian city medallion rugs, but a Tabriz (northwest Iran) is famous for the Mahi/fish design and frequently uses wool with silk for extra fineness and sheen, while a Kashan (central Iran) tends toward a denser all-over floral field in deep jewel tones. Both are formal and refined; the choice is largely about pattern and palette.
Can I see a Tabriz 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 Tabriz
Browse our genuine Persian Tabriz rugs — new to antique — or tell us your size and colors and we'll hand-pick a few for you.
