Afshar Semi Antique

Afshar rugs are hand-knotted by nomadic Afshar tribes in Iran and are part of a long-standing regional weaving tradition. Geometric patterns and strong color contrasts define their appearance, often in red, blue, and natural tones. The motifs follow traditional forms and reflect regional influences. Fine knotting creates a detailed and textured surface.

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.