Qum (also spelled Qom or Kom) is a Shia holy city in north-central Iran and the source of some of the world's finest silk rugs. Unlike most Persian weaving centers, which have centuries of continuous production, Qum's rug industry is relatively young, large-scale production began in the 1930s, but the city quickly established itself as a top-tier source of fine work.
Qum rugs are notable for:
- Silk pile on a silk foundation in the finest examples (some are wool with silk highlights, but pure silk is the category Qum is best known for)
- Extremely high knot counts, often 600–1,000+ KPSI, with some exceptional pieces exceeding 1,500 KPSI
- A wide range of designs: classical medallion, all-over floral, pictorial, tree of life, garden, hunting, and reproduction of historical patterns
- Soft, luminous color shifts in the silk pile that depend on viewing angle
- Smaller average sizes, many Qum rugs are made in scatter or area sizes rather than as room-sized carpets
Because silk is significantly less durable than wool underfoot, Qum silk rugs are most often used as decorative pieces, in low-traffic areas, on walls, or in formal rooms, rather than as everyday floor coverings. They are also among the most actively collected Persian rug categories.
