Rug No. has found its new home.
Every rug we sell is one of a kind, so that piece is gone. Here are others in the same spirit, or tell Rug Finder what you are looking for.
Zanjan Rugs
Zanjan sits in Persia’s northwest, close to Hamedan, and shares its neighbor’s love of clean geometry and hard-wearing wool. Expect village rugs with strong medallions on warm madder red, and mostly in runner lengths. These are original vintage pieces, practical, characterful and priced for real rooms rather than glass cases.
Zanjan: strong geometry from northwest Persia
Zanjan sits between Tehran and Tabriz in the northwest of Persia, in a region of village weaving with a firm, geometric hand. Zanjan carpets are close relatives of Hamedan work, sharing the same practical construction and the same preference for clear, bold drawing over curved floral detail.
Expect stepped medallions, hooked motifs and strong madder grounds, worked in good local wool on a cotton foundation.
Recognizing a Zanjan
- Drawing: geometric medallions, hooked and stepped forms, clear borders.
- Color: warm madder red and burgundy grounds in most of ours, with indigo and ivory in the drawing.
- Weave: firm village construction; hard-wearing.
- Sizes: mostly runners in ours, with some small and mid sizes.
Rooms that get used
Zanjan rugs are practical, hard-wearing floors for rooms that see daily life. Hallways, kitchens, studies and family rooms all suit them. The geometry is forgiving of daily life, and the wool is dense enough to take real traffic.
Village character
As with all weaving of this region, expect abrash where dye lots changed, borders that adjust as they turn, and medallions that sit slightly off center. These are marks of hand weaving without a cartoon and are part of the appeal.
Zanjan questions
How does Zanjan compare to Hamedan?
Closely related in construction and spirit. Zanjan drawing can be a little bolder and more angular, but both are sturdy northwestern village weavings built for use.
Are they suitable for high traffic?
Yes, this is one of their real strengths. Dense wool and firm construction make them excellent working rugs.
Sizing a working rug
These are practical rugs for rooms that get used, so size them for the way the space works rather than for the way it photographs. In a kitchen, a runner in front of the counter takes the standing wear. In a family room, go large enough that the seating sits on the rug rather than around it. In a hallway, leave floor visible at the sides.
Looking after a Zanjan
A Zanjan asks for very little: a rug pad underneath, the vacuum’s brush roll switched off, a half-turn each year so sun and footsteps spread evenly, and a blot rather than a scrub when something spills. Send it out for a professional wash every few years.
Before you order
Color banding and a slightly irregular outline are normal in Zanjan weaving and generally welcome. Look closely at the photographs of the ends and sides of any piece you like. Each Zanjan was professionally washed and checked over before we listed it.
The final pick
Look at how confidently the geometry is drawn and how the ground color shifts across the field. There is exactly one of each Zanjan on this page.
Northwest Persian village weaving, mostly in runners: the Zanjan guide.