MASHAD

Mashad rugs are hand-knotted Persian carpets made in the city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran. They are known for their fine knotting, reflecting a long local weaving tradition. Floral patterns and bold central medallions are common, often in colors such as red, blue, and ivory. Made from new wool and knotted on a cotton or silk foundation, Mashad rugs are valued for their durability and clear design. Their classic character allows them to work well in a wide range of interiors.

Every rug in this collection is hand-knotted, knot by knot, by master weavers trained in Iran's centuries-old tradition of carpet making. Using the asymmetrical Persian knot (senneh), a single rug can take anywhere from six months to several years to complete, depending on its size and knot density. This slow, deliberate process is what gives each piece its character. Subtle variations in tension, dye batch and motif rendering are not flaws — they are the fingerprint of the weaver and the guarantee that the rug in front of you is unlike any other.

Persian rugs are built on centuries of material knowledge. The pile is typically hand-spun wool from high-altitude sheep, prized for its lanolin content and resilience under foot, often accented with mulberry silk for luminous highlights on finer pieces. The foundation is usually cotton or silk, chosen for its dimensional stability. This particular piece combines a Wool pile on a Cotton foundation. Traditional dyes — madder root for reds, indigo for blues, walnut hulls for browns — age gracefully, softening over decades rather than fading.

Cared for properly, a hand-knotted Persian rug lasts for generations — most antique pieces in this collection are already 60 to 120 years old. Vacuum gently without a beater bar, rotate the rug every six months to even out wear, keep it out of prolonged direct sunlight, and have it professionally washed every five to seven years. Every piece at Rugbloom is sourced directly from family workshops and co-operatives that pay fair wages and strictly exclude child labour. Buying a Rugbloom rug supports the weavers whose hands made it and the tradition that trained them.