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.