And YES we clean them all!

Oriental, Persian, and Karastan rugs differ in their origins, manufacturing techniques, design characteristics, and market positioning:

Oriental Rugs

Oriental rugs are handmade floor coverings originating from Asia, particularly regions spanning from China to Turkey and the Caucasus. This is a broad category that includes Persian rugs.

• Origin: Various Asian countries including China, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and others
• Manufacturing: Traditionally hand-knotted, though machine-made versions now exist
• Materials: Typically wool, silk, or cotton
• Design: Wide variety of patterns based on cultural influences, often featuring geometric designs, floral motifs, and medallions
• Age: Authentic pieces range from antique to contemporary

Persian Rugs

Persian rugs are a specific type of Oriental rug made in Iran (formerly Persia).

• Origin: Exclusively Iran (Persia)
• Manufacturing: Traditionally hand-knotted with distinctive Persian knot techniques
• Materials: High-quality wool, silk, sometimes with cotton foundations
• Design: Known for intricate curvilinear designs, floral patterns, detailed medallions, and specific regional patterns (Isfahan, Tabriz, Kashan, etc.)
• Cultural significance: Often considered the pinnacle of Oriental rug craftsmanship with centuries of tradition

Karastan Rugs

Karastan rugs are machine-made American products designed to replicate the look of handmade Oriental rugs.

• Origin: United States (created by Marshall Field & Company in the 1920s)
• Manufacturing: Machine-made using specialized power looms
• Materials: Primarily wool, sometimes with synthetic fibers
• Design: Reproduces traditional Oriental and Persian patterns with consistent quality
• Market position: Premium machine-made rugs that are more affordable than handmade Oriental rugs but higher quality than typical machine-made carpets

The primary distinction is that Oriental is a broad category including rugs from across Asia, Persian rugs are specifically from Iran and considered among the finest Oriental rugs, while Karastan is an American brand that creates machine-made reproductions of Oriental designs.