Visual guide: Explore hand-knotted rugs
Each hand-knotted rug tells a story, knot by knot, over months of dedicated craftsmanship. Woven into every thread are symbols passed down through generations, echoing the landscapes, beliefs and lives of the rug weaver.
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A heritage of craftsmanship
Unlike machine-made rugs, hand-knotted rugs aren’t mass-produced. They’re made using one of the oldest and most respected rug-making techniques in the world. This slow, careful and skilled process creates a piece that’s both durable and unique.
Woven into every thread are symbols passed down through generations, echoing the landscapes, beliefs and lives of the rug weavers. Each region — whether Persian, Turkish or Indian — has its own distinctive patterns and symbols. No two hand-knotted rugs are ever exactly the same — each has its own personality and story to tell.
Weavers knot 5,000-8,000 knots a day
Each knot is tied individually by hand and secured around the rug’s foundation threads. The number of hand-tied knots per square metre shows how detailed and fine the rug is — the more knots, the more time and skill needed.
For fine rugs, such as Qum silk, knot density can exceed 700,000 knots per square metre. A professional weaver can knot 5,000 – 8,000 knots in a day, meaning one square meter takes around 5-6 months to produce. Depending on the size, detail and complexity, it can take several months — or even years — to finish one rug.
A rug to last a lifetime
Authentic oriental rugs are made from natural materials like wool, silk and cotton. Wool makes the rugs warm, soft and long-lasting, silk adds a beautiful shine and helps show fine details in the pattern and cotton gives the rug structure and keeps it flat. Many of these rugs are dyed using natural colours, which age gracefully over time, giving a rich, timeless look.
Because they’re made with care and high-quality materials, hand-knotted rugs can last for decades with proper care. They often become treasured family pieces, passed down from one generation to the next. Choosing a hand-knotted oriental rug means investing in craftsmanship, authenticity — a piece that will last for decades.
