Oversized Antique Persian Kirman Carpet BB7258 14'7" × 26'5" $130,000

A finely-knotted late 19th century Karastan rug kirman, the caramel field with a palmette, scrolling strap work and cloud band trellis overall within a midnight blue scrolling vine and cloud band border.

First things first, we would like to clarify the terminology. The very word “Oriental” derives from the Latin word oriens meaning “east” (lit. “rising” < orior ” rise”). The use of the word for “rising” in reference to the east (where the sun rises) has analogs from many languages. Today, the term “Oriental” refers mainly to the Far East, however, in the archaic usage it used to encompass also Middle and Near Eastern Areas. Thus, Oriental antique kilim rugs are generally those that were created in Asia.

This is probably the largest family of floor coverings in the whole world. It contains Antique Persian rugs, Chinese Rugs, Moroccan Rugs, Indian Rugs, even Caucasian and Bessarabian rugs, and, of course Persian oversized area rugs. To sum up, a Persian carpet is always an Oriental rug yet not every Oriental carpet has to be a Persian rug.