FAQs

True Mohtashem rugs are rarely seen in runner formats compared with typical Kashans. Most examples traded as “Mohtashem” are scatters, room-sizes, or larger carpets.

Many Mohtashem rugs show up in smaller room or scatter sizes, commonly around 4’×6′ to 5’×7′. Larger room-size pieces exist, but true workshop-quality examples are less common.

Mohtashem rugs are known for very high knot density—often cited around 350–400 knots per square inch, with some examples reported higher. Higher density usually means sharper curves and finer motifs.

In Mohtashem rugs, “kork” (kourk) generally refers to very fine lamb’s wool that can look velvety and slightly lustrous. It’s used to achieve sharp detail and a soft hand.

Mohtashem rugs typically use very fine lamb’s wool (often called kork/kourk) for the pile, sometimes with silk details. Foundations are often cotton, though specifics vary by piece.

Many Mohtashem rugs date to the late 1800s through early 1900s, with a commonly cited workshop era around 1880–1914. Earlier 19th-century pieces exist but are much rarer.

Mohtashem rugs are named for Hajji Mollah Mohammed Hassan Mohtasham, a 19th-century Kashan master weaver. His name is used for both his output and the elite “Mohtasham Kashan” style.

Mohtashem rugs were made in Kashan, a historic weaving city in central Iran. Classic examples are associated with late-19th to early-20th-century Kashan workshop production.

Mohtashem rugs are often pronounced “moh-TAH-shum” (you’ll also see “Mohtasham”). Sellers may use either spelling, but both usually point to the same Kashan workshop style.

Mohtashem rugs are ultra-fine Persian Kashan rugs associated with master weaver Hajji Mollah Hassan Mohtasham and his workshop. They’re prized for dense knotting, luminous wool, and crisp floral drawing.