Tabriz has a rich history of rug making. It is one of the oldest rug-making centers in the country and has one of the greatest varieties of traditional designs focused on finely woven intricate and ornamental patterns. Floral curvilinear vines interconnected tendrils and ornate medallions are typically featured. The rug-making tradition in the city was at a high point in the period from the 12th to the 16th centuries.
Later, during the 19th century, the city of Tabriz was home to some of the most celebrated rug weaving artisans, who carried on the tradition begun there hundreds of years earlier. Artisans in the city led the way in a renaissance of rug making, rugs that were made for the people of Iran as well as for export.
Their craftsmanship was unparalleled, and the materials they used were of the highest quality. Tabriz weavers made rugs with tightly-packed knots and complex floral designs. Some of the rugs produced there in the 20th century are among the finest ever made.
