FAQs

Vacuum gently with suction only and spot-test dyes before any moisture. For deep cleaning, use a specialist who handles hand-knotted rugs.

Newer ones can shed moderately at first due to loose fibers; shedding tapers with regular vacuuming (without a beater bar).

Yes. Their dense wool pile and simple construction wear well; use a quality rug pad and rotate yearly for even aging.

New small pieces can start in the low hundreds; vintage tribal examples often run \$1,000–\$5,000; rare antique city or Caucasian works can reach \$10,000+.

Import rules change and can be restrictive; domestic resale of existing pieces is common. Check current OFAC/CBP guidance or a customs attorney before importing.

Historically they reference Iran’s former state emblem; today most buyers treat them as cultural-heritage art. Context matters—display respectfully in public or institutional settings.

Many are small to mid sizes (around 3×5 to 5×7 feet) for hanging or accent use; larger room sizes exist but are less common and often pricier.

They’re stylized Chinese guardian lions, not dogs; they share protective symbolism with Persian lions but come from different Buddhist-influenced traditions.

Both. Nineteenth–twentieth century examples are collectible, while modern Persian-style, Afghan, and Indian workshops still produce lion pictorials and Gabbehs.

Karabagh pieces can show heraldic animals or sunbursts; structure is typically wool on wool with symmetrical knots and strong, graphic medallions.

Expect finer, city-workshop drawing, cotton foundations, and delicate color palettes; lions may appear in framed “pictorial” scenes alongside crowns, arches, or inscriptions.

Look for thick, lofty wool pile, simple bold drawing, wool foundations, and vegetal-dyed fields; many show one large lion spanning the field with naive, charming proportions.