Kashan is the city that made "Persian rug" mean what it means. Located in central Iran between Isfahan and Tehran, Kashan has been weaving fine hand-knotted rugs for at least 800 years, and its design tradition became so influential that when Westerners picture a Persian rug, they're almost always picturing a Kashan.

01 — OriginThe city that defined the tradition.

Kashan sits on the edge of Iran's central desert, a historical crossroads on the Silk Road and one of the ancient centers of Persian craftsmanship. Rug weaving in Kashan traces back at least to the 11th century, and the city rose to prominence during the Safavid dynasty (1501-1736) when royal workshops were established there under state patronage.

The Safavid Kashan workshops produced some of the finest rugs ever woven. The Ardabil Carpets — woven around 1539-1540 for the shrine of Sheikh Safi al-Din — are almost certainly Kashan work. Their inscription names Maqsud Kashani as their weaver. These pieces, now in London's Victoria & Albert Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, established the Kashan tradition at the highest level of world textile art.

After the Afghan invasion of 1722 disrupted the royal workshops, Kashan production went into a long quiet period. It was revived in the late 19th century by a wealthy Kashani merchant named Mohtashem, whose workshops began producing extremely fine rugs for the European and American markets. The "Mohtashem Kashan" rugs made between roughly 1880 and 1930 are among the most collected antique Persian rugs today.

02 — DesignThe classical medallion.

The defining Kashan design is a central medallion on a field of allover floral pattern, framed by multiple borders. The medallion is typically diamond-shaped or oval, often with pendants extending vertically from its top and bottom. The corners of the field usually feature quarter-medallions or "spandrels" that echo the central form.

Between the medallion and the field's edge, the pattern is filled with curvilinear floral motifs — palmettes, rosettes, arabesques, vines, cypresses, and the occasional bird or animal figure. Every element is drawn with fine, flowing curves rather than geometric angles.

Kashan borders are always multiple concentric bands — typically a main border framed by two or four smaller guard borders. The main border often features the "Herati" pattern (a rosette surrounded by four leaves), the "Boteh" (paisley), or floral cartouches.

Variations include the "Kashan prayer rug" with a mihrab niche at one end, the "all-over Kashan" without a central medallion (rare), and the "pictorial Kashan" featuring garden scenes or historical figures.

03 — Materials & ConstructionWool, silk, and Persian knots.

Traditional Kashan rugs use fine wool pile on cotton foundation. The wool is typically from local Kashan sheep — long-staple, lustrous, dye-receptive. Cotton warps and wefts give the rug structural stability without adding weight. The finest Kashan production also uses silk pile for the highest-tier pieces, or silk highlights within a wool ground.

Kashan rugs are woven with the Persian (asymmetric) knot, which allows the fine curvilinear detail the Kashan design requires. Typical KPSI ranges:

• Standard Kashan: 200-350 KPSI
• Fine Kashan: 350-500 KPSI
• Master Kashan (including Mohtashem): 500-800 KPSI
• Silk Kashan: 500-1000+ KPSI

See our complete KPSI guide for how to count knots and what these ranges mean in practice.

04 — PaletteRed, ivory, and deep blue.

The classical Kashan palette is madder red ground with ivory and deep indigo accents. Red comes from madder root; the deep blue from indigo; the ivory from undyed cream wool. Traditional pieces use natural dyes throughout, giving colors a subtle depth and slight variation (abrash) that machine dyes can't replicate.

Some Kashans use an ivory or cream ground instead of red — these are typically higher-end pieces from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Deep navy grounds appear in more formal Kashans intended for European buyers.

Yellow, green, and rust appear as secondary colors in border patterns and floral details. Green is used sparingly (see our post on Persian rug color meanings for why).

05 — Market TiersAntique, semi-antique, and modern Kashan.

06 — PricingWhat Kashans actually cost.

Kashan pricing varies enormously with age, size, condition, and quality. Approximate ranges as of 2026:

• Antique Mohtashem 8×10: $15,000-80,000+
• Antique standard Kashan 8×10: $6,000-25,000
• Semi-antique Kashan 8×10: $3,500-12,000
• Modern Kashan 8×10: $1,500-6,000
• Fine silk Kashan 6×9: $8,000-40,000+

These are honest retail ranges from a working dealer. Auction prices can be lower for damaged pieces; museum-quality Mohtashem examples can exceed $200,000 at Sotheby's or Christie's.

07 — Identifying AuthenticSigns of a real Kashan.

• Fine, flexible foundation. Real Kashans have thin cotton warps and wefts, allowing the rug to fold and roll easily.
• Curvilinear drawing throughout. Every line curves. No geometric angles in the field or borders. If lines are angular, it's a different tradition being sold as Kashan.
• Fine wool pile. Should feel smooth and lustrous, not coarse or dry.
• Multiple borders. Always a main border plus 2-4 guard borders. Simple single-border rugs are not Kashan.
• Natural dye variation. Antique and semi-antique Kashans show subtle abrash (color variation) in solid areas. Perfectly uniform colors suggest synthetic dye or modern production.
• Signed pieces. Some Kashans include a woven signature cartouche naming the workshop or master weaver. Mohtashem, Attarian, and Dabir are the most notable.

See our full how to tell if a rug is handmade post for the general authentication tests.

08 — CareKashans are made to last.

A quality Kashan is engineered for a century of daily use. Basic care principles:

• Vacuum weekly with brush roll off or minimum setting.
• Rotate 180 degrees annually to equalize wear and sun exposure.
• Use quality rug pad (see our rug pad guide).
• Professional cleaning every 3-5 years for high-traffic pieces, 5-10 years for low-traffic.
• Address spills immediately with cool water and blotting.
• Never use retail carpet cleaners — they will damage wool and dyes.

— Arsh's Rugs