“Antique carpets are our passion — delighting clients is our mission.”
“Every rug in this collection has been studied, sought, and selected as a work of art — not simply a floor covering. When you acquire one, you are not buying a product. You are becoming its next custodian.”
— Our Founder, The Persian Knot GalleryRoots in the Great Carpet Bazaars of Persia
The Persian Knot Gallery is the culmination of more than a century of family devotion to the art of the handwoven carpet. The roots of the gallery trace back to the great Carpet Bazaars of Persia, where our founder’s family built a legacy across generations. His father spent over 50 years scouring Persia for the finest vintage carpets — sourcing from the great artisan workshop cities of Tabriz, Isfahan, Nain, Qum, and Kashan. Growing up apprenticing alongside him, the love of fine carpets was instilled in our founder before he had words for it.
The seeds of today’s collection are those very rugs from his father’s personal holdings: exquisite workshop pieces produced before 1970, now considered among the finest vintage carpets in existence. To these our founder has added 30 years of his own passionate collecting — antique village and tribal rugs from the late 18th through early 20th centuries, each one a genuine work of art selected for its uniqueness, rarity, and beauty.
As others might have a passion for horses or a vintage car collection, fine antique carpets have been our founder’s lifelong avocation — pursued in parallel with a career in academia and the corporate world, in R&D, strategic planning, and business development across global markets.
Through decades of international travel, whenever a few hours opened up, our founder would seek out the ancient bazaars, the hidden workshops, the private estates. Like Marco Polo navigating the Silk Road, always searching for the extraordinary piece that deserved to be found, preserved, and shared.
Pieces in the collection have been sourced from estates and private collections across the United States, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia — dating back to the late 1700s. Among the highlights: a French Aubusson carpet acquired from Hillwood Estate in Washington D.C., formerly the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post, founder of General Foods Corporation.
Sourced from the World’s Finest Traditions
Every piece at The Persian Knot Gallery has been individually studied and selected. Our focus is exclusively on one-of-a-kind antique and vintage handwoven art — rugs that reward close attention and belong in a home forever.
- Persia — Tabriz, Isfahan, Nain, Qum, Kashan artisan workshop rugs
- Caucasus Region — village and tribal antiques
- Central Asia — nomadic and regional weaving traditions
- China — late 19th and early 20th century pieces
- India — fine handwoven textiles and carpets
- Western Europe — French Aubusson and tapestry carpets
- North & South America — indigenous and folk textile traditions
- Africa & Middle East — rare and regional woven arts
What Makes a Fine Carpet Worth Collecting?
Today’s market is filled with rugs labeled “handmade oriental” that bear little resemblance to the great weaving traditions of the past. The quality, materials, craftsmanship, and design of most commercially available rugs are not much different from a good machine-made product — whatever the label says.
At The Persian Knot, our focus is singular: truly one-of-a-kind pieces evaluated across four dimensions:
- Fineness of weave — the density and precision of the knotting
- Color — whether vegetable dyes were used, and the natural variation known as abrash that develops over 80–100 years, adding beauty and uniqueness that new rugs can only imitate
- Design — the creativity, artistic quality, and authenticity of the pattern
- Material — the quality of wool or silk used in the foundation and pile
A Voice of Authority on Antique Carpets
Our founder’s expertise extends well beyond the gallery walls. He has been invited to lecture on antique carpet history at the Winnetka Public Library, the Barrington Public Library, and — in a first in its 43-year history — as the featured carpet specialist at Art in the Barn, the annual juried arts event supporting Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.
These lectures span the full sweep of carpet history: from the earliest surviving handwoven rug — the Pazyryk, dating to the 5th century BC — through the royal workshops of the Persian Safavid Dynasty, the spread of weaving traditions through the Ottoman Empire into Mughal India, Central Asia, and China, and the French Aubusson tradition of Western Europe.
The same depth of knowledge that fills a library lecture hall is available to every client who walks through the gallery door — or picks up the phone.
A Few Questions Worth Asking
Before acquiring a fine antique carpet, it helps to know what you are really looking for:
- Are you looking for a floor covering — or a fine antique carpet as the foundation of your interior design?
- Are you looking for a wall covering — or a piece of art?
- What is the history of the piece, and where was it made?
- How rare is it, and what materials were used?
These are the questions we ask every client. Finding the right piece takes time, trust, and a gallery that is genuinely interested in your needs — not simply in making a sale.
What Our Clients Say
“Mostafa has broad and deep knowledge, and is very interesting to chat with. He is very generous about letting customers take rugs home — and he has come to know what I like.”
— Martha P., Collector“The proprietor is such a gentle soul who lovingly explains the history of each piece, the city or village where it is made, and how it is woven. The gallery is a step back in time. They simply take your breath away.”
— Jean C., Collector“His engagement spans all levels — broad topics of the industry, specific artistic traditions, and nuanced design strategies. There are no high-pressure sales tactics whatsoever.”
— Amy B., Interior Designer“Mostafa is as fine a gentleman and businessman as I have ever dealt with. He delivered the rug personally and checked up to see if I were satisfied. I definitely was.”
— Debbie G., ClientThe Right Rug Takes Time and Conversation
Acquiring a fine antique carpet is not like buying furniture. It requires understanding your space, your eye, and what you want to live with for decades. That is why we work differently from a typical gallery.
We welcome home consultations at no charge — bringing pieces to you so you can see them in your own light, with your own furnishings. We provide detailed condition reports, additional photographs, and full provenance documentation for every piece. We work closely with interior designers and decorators, and welcome trade inquiries.
We also offer professional appraisal services for insurance, estate planning, and resale — with comprehensive written reports for each piece evaluated.
When you are ready to start a conversation, we are ready to listen.
As Featured In
- Chicago Tribune
- Living60010
Community Involvement
- Hands of Hope — Barrington Country Garden & Antique Faire
- Art in the Barn — benefiting Good Shepherd Hospital
- Winnetka Public Library
- Barrington Public Library
Begin the Conversation
Whether you are searching for a specific piece, need a professional appraisal, or simply want to explore the collection — we would love to hear from you.
847 382 1031 info@thepersianknot.com 200 Applebee Street, Suite 117, Barrington, IL 60010