Kashan Rugs
Kashan is old-money Persian weaving — the city produced court carpets for the Safavid shahs, and its classic red-and-navy medallion rugs became the formal Persian rug of American living rooms in the early 20th century. Austin Auction Gallery has sold Kashans from Texas estates up to a 20-foot Manchester Kashan that brought $1,300.
What it's Worth
Standard 20th-century Kashans bring $400–$800 at our sales, with size and fineness pushing the top: a 20'2" x 12' Persian Manchester Kashan sold for $1,300, and an estate example at 12'11" x 9'11" brought $750 in March 2026. Genuine Manchester-wool pieces, fine antique Kashans, and silk Kashans (a separate luxury category) can bring several times these numbers in the national market.
Typical 20th-century examples $400–$800; oversized and Manchester Kashans $750–$1,300+; fine antique or silk pieces higher
Our Sold Results
LARGE PERSIAN MANCHESTER KASHAN RUG, 20'2" X 12'
$ 8,500.00 USD
PERSIAN KASHAN HAND TIED WOOL RUG,12'.25" x 8'10"
$ 3,750.00 USD
HAND-TIED PERSIAN KASHAN RUG, 10'5", 7'11"
$ 1,700.00 USD
HAND-TIED PERSIAN KASHAN RUG, 21'0" X 12'10"
$ 1,600.00 USD
ESTATE HAND-TIED PERSIAN KASHAN RUG, 14'7" X 10'7"
$ 1,500.00 USD
LARGE PERSIAN MANCHESTER KASHAN RUG, 20'2" X 12'
$ 1,300.00 USD
Recently Sold
Overview & History
Kashan's weaving pedigree reaches back to the 16th-century Safavid court workshops, and when Persian production revived for export around 1900, the city resumed its place at the formal end of the market. The classic Kashan is a curvilinear medallion-and-spandrel design on a rich red field with navy borders, densely woven in fine wool with an asymmetric (Persian) knot on cotton. The most storied sub-group is the 'Manchester Kashan' — early 20th-century pieces woven from imported merino fleece spun in Manchester, England, with a distinctively silky, glossy pile that collectors actively hunt. Prayer-design (mehrab) Kashans and pictorial pieces also appear. Kashans read as formal and traditional, which tempers decorator demand, but quality examples remain steady sellers.
Identifying & Marks
A Kashan shows fine, dense asymmetric knotting on a cotton foundation, a soft but substantial handle, and disciplined curvilinear drawing — flowing vines, palmettes, and a lobed central medallion. Manchester Kashans are identified by their unusually lustrous, soft pile that catches light like silk plush. Silk Kashans have real silk pile throughout (burn-test a fringe fiber only if you know what you're doing — better, let us look). Later Indian and Pakistani 'Kashan-design' copies are coarser with brighter, flatter reds.
FAQ
What is my Kashan rug worth?
Standard 20th-century Kashans bring $400–$800 at our sales, with oversized and Manchester-wool examples higher — a 20-foot Manchester Kashan brought $1,300. Fine antique and silk Kashans occupy a premium market of their own and deserve individual appraisal.
What is a Manchester Kashan?
An early 20th-century Kashan woven from imported merino fleece spun in Manchester, England. The wool gives the pile an unmistakable silky luster, and collectors actively seek these out. If your Kashan's pile catches light like plush velvet, have it evaluated before selling.
How do I know my Kashan is not a copy?
Genuine Kashans show fine, dense asymmetric knotting on cotton, disciplined curvilinear drawing, and rich but controlled color. Indian and Pakistani 'Kashan-design' rugs are coarser with brighter, flatter reds. A photo of the back showing the knot work usually settles it.