Buying Antique Hamadan Rugs

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Collectors may consider buying antique Hamadan rugs due to their exquisite beautiful design, colors and historical value.

Classic Persian Rug

What are Hamadan Rugs?

Dating back to the Bronze Age (3500-2000 BC), rug making is the most ancient traditions of the Persian culture. Hamadan (also called Hamedan) is thought to be one of the oldest cities in Iran, and today is a major city west of Tehran. The finely crafted rugs from this region incorporate the culture of the 1,500 villages in the area. Two distinct designs have been produced from each village, giving about 3,000 different types of Hamadan rugs.

The rugs are coarsely woven with high-quality wool. A distinctive feature is the single wefted edges -- a weft is a piece of yarn that is horizontally integrated over and under vertical “warp” yarns to create rows. A single weft utilizes one piece of yarn woven throughout the rug.

Another feature of the Hamadan rug is that they all have a geometric medallion pattern, with the diamond and hexagon being the most common shapes. Common background colors are red, blue, dark brown and camel tan. For motifs and outlines, you will see a lot of black, green and gold colors.

Buying Antique Hamadan Rugs

Hamadan rugs produced within the last 150 years can be purchased from antique galleries, personal collectors and even online auctions. However, these are considered “semi-antique” rugs. Antique Hamadan rugs are difficult to come by since European countries purchased the majority, which are now being displayed in museums.

If you are interested in purchasing an authentic, quality made Hamadan rug, here are some things you should look out for:

  • Natural fiber material: Authentic Hamadan rugs are made with wool, especially if you are looking for a semi-antique or earlier produced rug. If you are buying antique Hamadan rugs, synthetic materials are definitely not worth your time.
  • The Hamadan you purchase should have a certificate of authenticity to verify where it originated, the materials used, and the approximate age of the rug.
  • Knots per square inch: The more knots, the better quality rug.
  • Authentic Hamadans are woven by hand, and will have slight imperfections.
  • Common sizes of these rugs are 7 by 10 feet, 8 by 12 feet, and 10 by 13 feet.

Online Hamadan Rug Sellers

Looking for a good place to buy antique Hamadan rugs? Here’s a list of reputable sellers:

  • Rug Man- Specializes in Persian rugs, new and semi-antique. With a large inventory selection available in multiple sizes, there is something to fit the tastes of any discriminating buyer. The website is a great source of information on the various types of rugs, including pricing and history.
  • Gabbeh- Gabbeh in the Farsi language means “something raw or natural, which is the perfect description of the types of authentic Persian rugs you will find on this website. Their big inventory is imported from around the world, and includes a large choice of Hamadan rugs of antique and new types. They also offer rug cleaning and repair services. Prices commonly show 30 to 40 percent discounts on many rugs in stock.
  • Old Carpet- This online dealer specializes in Persian rugs that are imported worldwide from galleries and other collectors. The site also sells other interesting Persian collectible and novelty items. You can sometimes find some of their inventory on eBay.
  • 1001 Persian Rugs- Offering Persian rugs from multiple regions, their selection of inventory has a lot of variety. You can get a certificate of authenticity for any rug purchased for a nominal charge.

If you are a collector and are considering buying antique Hamadan rugs, you will need to research the items carefully. True “antique” Hamadan rugs can be a challenge to find and purchase, but you can find great “semi-antique” pieces that were produced in the last 150 years. Make sure the rug is made with natural materials and verify that it has a certificate of authenticity. With a little persistence, price shopping, and knowledge on your side, the perfect Persian Hamadan rug will be a nice addition to your collection or furnishings.


By Sheila Robinson



 


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