The weaving of art level carpets in the Persian empire began towards the end of theย 15th century. ย Persian rugs and carpets are known for their high quality wools and silks,ย fineย execution of designs and incredibleย interpretations of color. ย Silk carpets worked with gold and silver threads were prized by Persian and foreign nobility alike, with many pieces finding their way to the princely homes of Baroque Europe. ย Today, most 16th and 17th century masterpieces areย decoratedย in both private and museum collections around the world. ย The collapse of the Safavid dynasty in the early part of the 18th centuryย interrupted weaving centers around the country. ย Sinceย few examples have been preserved,ย less is known about carpet production in that period. ย In 1796 the Qajars set about the reunification of the country and established their capital in Tehran. ย A new period of prosperity began with a renewed interest in the arts. The carpet industry gradually grewย into a much larger scale of production around the country. ย The rug renaissance of the 19th century played an important role in Persia, with the largest collection of weaving centers in the world.
