Name: Amazing Antique Persian Karaja with Electric Blue Medallions & Colorful Tribal Borders
Size: 2.10 x 4.3
Age: Antique, Circa 1930
Pile: Low to medium pile with beautiful age character and strong design clarity
About This Rug
This Antique Persian Karaja is an absolute showstopper — the kind of small tribal rug that instantly commands attention.
The first thing that grabs you are the two incredible electric-blue medallions running down the center of the rug. Their bold geometric forms explode against the rich red field, creating that powerful contrast Karaja rugs are famous for. The crisp angular outlines and layered tribal motifs give the medallions serious visual energy — strong, graphic, and unmistakably village-woven.
Between them sits a striking central diamond medallion, tying the entire composition together and adding another layer of tribal geometry to the design. Every element feels deliberate but still wonderfully organic — exactly what you want to see in a true handmade village piece.
Then there are the borders, and they’re just as good. Multiple bands frame the field with lively floral and geometric motifs in saturated blues, reds, ivory, and hints of coral and sky blue. The border pattern has that rhythmic, almost bead-like quality that moves your eye around the rug and perfectly balances the bold central medallions.
The palette is classic Karaja magic: rich red ground, deep and sky blues, ivory highlights, and soft touches of coral and rose woven throughout. The colors have mellowed beautifully over time, giving the rug warmth and depth without losing their vibrancy.
At 2.10 x 4.3, this is a perfect small-format accent rug. It works beautifully in an entryway, beside a bed, in a kitchen, or layered into a larger space that needs a punch of antique character.
Bottom line: bold medallions, incredible color, and serious tribal presence.
The Real Deal
Karaja rugs come from villages in northwestern Iran, where artisans weave sturdy, expressive carpets known for their large geometric medallions, saturated color palettes, and durable wool construction.
This piece was hand-knotted nearly a century ago, around the 1930s, using traditional village weaving techniques. Like all authentic antique rugs, it is completely one-of-a-kind.
It has been professionally cleaned and is ready for its next chapter.
Once it sells, that's it. There will never be another one exactly like it.
Condition Notes
This is a genuine antique handmade textile. Minor irregularities, slight edge wear, and signs of age are normal and part of what give these rugs their authenticity and charm.
Translation: that’s character, not damage.
Rug Pad Tip
We always recommend using a high-quality custom-cut rug pad designed specifically for hand-knotted rugs. A proper pad protects the foundation, adds body underfoot, and keeps the rug from shifting.
A Little Perspective
Rugs like this weren’t made in factories. They were woven knot by knot on village looms, often by artisans working from memory and traditions passed down through generations.
Who first owned it? Which home did it warm nearly a century ago?
We may never know the full story — and honestly, that mystery is part of the magic.
At Rugsnob, we hunt down the good ones — the rugs with real soul, real craftsmanship, and real presence — and pass them along to people who know the difference.
Because once you’ve lived with a rug like this, the mass-produced stuff just doesn’t hit the same.
