This is a vintage Persian Kashmar rug in the celebrated Zirkhaki design, woven roughly forty years ago in the city of Kashmar in northeastern Persia. The word Zirkhaki translates loosely as under the soil or archaeology, and the pattern is a tribute to ancient Persia: across a deep navy field you will find Persepolis columns, winged lions, robed relief figures, oil lamps, footed bowls, and ornate vases, all drawn from the art and ruins of the Achaemenid age. A soft blue and red medallion anchors the center, framed by a red spandrel border filled with animals and a wide navy main border of vases and blossoms. It is a true conversation piece, equal parts rug and storytelling tapestry.

Design and Motifs

The navy field is a museum case of ancient Persia rendered in wool. Tall fluted columns rise toward the top, flanked by winged lions and confronting relief figures in the Achaemenid manner, while lamps, chalices, footed bowls, and slender vases are scattered through the curling vinework. At the center sits a layered medallion in soft blue, rose, and cream on a red ground, and the red corner spandrels carry their own small menagerie of birds and beasts. The wide navy border of urns and blossoms ties the scene together and reinforces the antiquity theme that gives the Zirkhaki its name.

Colors and Placement

The palette is built on a deep navy and indigo ground with red, rust, salmon, gold, cream, and light blue picking out the figures and motifs. The dark field makes the lighter scenes glow and gives the rug a rich, formal presence well suited to a study, library, office, dining room, or living room where its imagery can be appreciated up close. At roughly 8 by 11 feet it works as a primary room rug, and its pictorial design rewards a spot where people gather and can notice the columns, animals, and vessels worked into the field.

Origin and Construction

This rug was hand-knotted in Kashmar, a weaving town in the Khorasan region of northeastern Persia known specifically for these archaeological Zirkhaki pictorials, using wool pile on a cotton foundation at roughly 160 to 180 knots per square inch. Now about forty years old, it carries the low pile and gentle wear of its age, offered honestly and at a strong discount for a buyer who wants a genuine pictorial Persian rug with real character. As a direct importer, Rugs.net offers free shipping and free returns to all 50 states, same-day refunds, and our price beat guarantee.