Vintage Persian Ardabil Rug

259 x 120 cm (8'6" x 3'11")

$2,500.00 AUD
All Natural Fibres
From earth to floor. Pure materials, no synthetics. 
Skilfully Handmade
Century-old craft over machine production. 
One-of-a-Kind
Yours alone. Never to be replicated. How special is that?

Material: 100% hand-spun wool on a cotton base
Origin: Ardabil, Iran
Construction: Handknotted
Condition: Vintage, circa 1960. Excellent condition. 

Ardabil rugs are hand-knotted in northwestern Iran, in and around the ancient city of Ardabil near the Caspian Sea. This region has been weaving rugs for over 2,000 years, with techniques passed down through families who've made carpet weaving their livelihood through long winters when farming stops.

These rugs are built for durability rather than delicacy. The wool pile sits on a cotton foundation, knotted using the Turkish symmetrical knot. The pile is kept shorter than many Persian styles, which makes the rugs thinner, more flexible, and particularly good for high-traffic areas. The wool itself is robust and hardwearing, sourced from sheep raised in Ardabil's mountainous terrain.

The designs lean heavily geometric: diamonds, hexagons, angular patterns arranged in strict symmetry. Many Ardabil rugs feature the Herati (or Mahi) pattern, a classic Persian design with a central diamond medallion surrounded by small fish motifs throughout the field. The influence of nearby Caucasian weaving traditions shows in the bold, angular compositions and strong use of colour.

Ardabil weavers favour vibrant, saturated colours. These aren't subtle, muted rugs. The palette tends toward rich reds, deep blues, and warm earth tones that create visual impact without apology.

The most famous carpet in the world is an Ardabil rug. Woven in 1539-40 and now housed in London's Victoria and Albert Museum, the Ardabil Carpet contains 25 million individual knots and bears an inscription from Persian poet Hafiz. What's less known: there were originally two identical carpets, and one was taken apart in the 1890s to repair the other. The second carpet still exists in pieces at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Kindly Note: This rug is part of our upcoming container shipment, due to arrive mid to end of February 2026. Once received at our Melbourne warehouse, it will be dispatched immediately.

Only one piece available. Ordering ahead secures this piece for you.

SKU: NR-0213
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The Najaf Rugs Difference

Everything we do, from the photos we take to the descriptions we write, is designed with one goal: making sure you're thrilled with your rug choice. If you're not, we're not.

We get it, rug shopping online is hard

We Want You to Love It Too

We're so passionate about our rugs that we want you to feel the same way. If it's not quite the perfect match for your space, our flexible return and exchange policy means you can choose with confidence, knowing we'll help you find the one that's truly meant for your home.

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Meet the Najaf Behind najaf rugs

Who Better to Trust with Rugs Than a Master Rug Maker?

With decades of experience weaving, repairing, and washing rugs since the age of 12, Najaf's trained eye catches what others miss. He travels far and wide to personally source each piece, ensuring no rug reaches you without his personal approval. That's the difference between buying from sellers and buying from makers.

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Hear from the homes that chose us. 250+ five-star reviews and counting.
I ordered a hall runner and it arrived to the UK in less than a week. It was well packaged and exactly as described. I absolutely love it and am really happy that I found Najaf Rugs.
— Helen
I am thrilled with my rugs. They are just stunning. The colours are insane, mesmerising, unique. Never seen such colourways before in a rug. I also ordered from Sydney so I was relying on the website and speaking to Maria before purchasing. Maria was able to answer my questions and the customer service experience was very good. I ordered on Monday and the rugs arrived Wednesday! I would love to buy again from Najaf Rugs, after I get rid of my existing rugs!
— Fifi
Gorgeous rugs and exactly as described. Sharp pricing too. Items were speedily dispatched and arrived safe and well packaged. All in all a very positive experience. Will shop here again.
— Sandra
Great range of rugs. Easy to communicate with each time when I had a few questions pre-purchase. Rug arrived in good condition and well packed (with personal touch like handwritten note, plus rug care instructions). Really like the unique vintage rug I bought from Najaf - not like anything I had seen elsewhere. Interesting background story to the owner of the company, who is clearly an expert on rugs!
— Keely
Very happy with our purchase. Quality, value and customer service all excellent.
— David
This is my 3rd purchase and another beautiful rug, very fast delivery and rugs always exactly as described and pictured. Wonderful service for country buyers.
— Tracey

Everything You Need To Know

Shipping & Delivery

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Returns & Exchanges

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Rug Care

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Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions we’re asked most often.
Will the rug look the same in person as it does online?

We take great care to photograph every rug in natural light, with no unnecessary editing, so the colours you see are as close to the real thing as possible. It’s something we’re genuinely proud of, customers often tell us how true our photos are to the actual rug. In all our years of selling rugs online, we’ve had fewer than 10 returns due to colour concerns. 

Colours can still look slightly different depending on your screen settings and the lighting in your home, but if you’d like extra peace of mind, we can send additional photos or videos, or arrange a virtual or in-person viewing before you buy.
Can I view this rug in your Prahran store?

Absolutely. You’re welcome to visit our Prahran store or Rowville warehouse to see rugs in person. If you’ve seen something on our website that you’d like to view, let us know in advance or simply fill out the form below so we can have it ready for you.
How long will shipping take?

Delivery times depend on your location. In most cases, Australian deliveries arrive within a few days, while international shipments can take anywhere from 1–4 weeks. Full estimated timeframes for different destinations are available here: Shipping & Delivery.
What is your returns and exchange policy?

We want you to love your rug. If for any reason it’s not quite right, you can return or exchange full-priced rugs within 4 days of purchase (for in-store orders) or within 4 days of delivery (for online, interstate, or international orders). 

Rugs need to be in the same condition they were sold. You can find the full details here: Returns & Exchanges.
How should I care for my rug?

For best advice, please see our detailed guide here: Rug Care.

Still curious? We’ve answered even more questions in our full FAQ

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