8 min read · Updated 5 June 2026
The Persian rug is one of the hardest textiles to judge without a reference point. Too many criteria, too many marketing promises, too many price levels that make no sense together. Weaving density clears up that confusion. It is what separates a genuinely fine Persian rug from one that only looks the part, and it is what determines how fine the pattern is, how well the rug lasts, and what it is really worth. Here is how to read it, and what it means across the more than 30 Casemira Persian models.
1. Density, the first thing to look at on a Persian rug
On a Persian rug, weaving density is measured in points per square metre. It is the number of knots (or weaving points, in the case of modern machine production) contained in one square metre of rug. The higher that density, the finer the pattern, the more precise the gradients and the more visible the details.
As a guide, a standard machine-made rug of average quality is woven at around 200,000 to 500,000 points/m². A good-quality machine-made rug reaches 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 points/m². A contemporary high-end Persian rug like those in the Casemira collection reaches 3,000,000 points per square metre, two to three times the high-end market average.
That level of density has three concrete consequences:
Fineness of pattern. Central medallions, palmettes and arabesques appear with an almost drawn precision. Dye gradients between two neighbouring shades no longer read as pixels but as soft transitions.
Strength of the weave. More points per square metre means more material per square metre. The rug stands up better to crushing, friction and foot traffic. According to textile industry standards, a very high-density rug keeps its body for decades in normal use.
Colour retention. Density shields the underlying fibre from direct light exposure. The shades hold over time, where a low-density rug can lose 20 to 30% of its saturation in five years according to textile industry standards.
2. Making sense of 3,000,000 points/m²
The figure is impressive on paper. To make it tangible: 3 million points per square metre works out at one point every 0.57 mm. Literally, to the naked eye at a normal distance (1-2 metres), the individual points vanish into the overall effect and the eye sees only continuous shading.
Two technological choices make that density possible:
High-precision industrial looms. Casemira Persian rugs are produced on modern Wilton looms capable of weaving at very high density, lining up 50 to 70 warp threads per centimetre. That precision was impossible in machine production twenty years ago.
Fine, even fibre. The diameter of the Modal Silk or Acrylic-Cotton fibre is calibrated to allow high density. A fibre that was too thick would top out at 1,500,000 points/m². Moving to a fine industrial fibre doubles that.
This weaving density should not be confused with two other figures that sometimes get quoted:
Weight per m² (g/m²). An indicator of the total amount of material, which depends on the pile height. A thick rug that is heavy in g/m² can be less dense in points/m² than a fine, precise one.
KPSI (knots per square inch). The number of knots per square inch, used historically for genuine hand-knotted rugs. There is no direct equivalence with the points/m² of machine production, but the idea is the same: the higher it is, the finer the rug.
3. Modal Silk versus Acrylic-Cotton Basic
Casemira offers two Persian constructions, with an identical density of 3,000,000 points/m² but different fibres:
| Criterion | Modal Silk | Acrylic-Cotton Basic |
|---|---|---|
| Number of models | More than 10 (Samara collection) | More than 10 (Isfahan collection) |
| Composition | 100% Modal Silk (silk-effect modal) | 100% Acrylic-Cotton Basic (acrylic + cotton) |
| Feel | Silky, smooth underhand, pearly sheen | Soft, matt, warmer |
| Origin | Turkey | Turkey |
| Pile height | ±5 mm | ±5 mm |
| Budget | Higher budget | Medium budget |
| Ideal for | An exclusive living room, a centrepiece, plenty of light | An affordable refined living room, a main bedroom, a classic study |
Important, in the interests of transparency: neither of them is natural silk. "Modal Silk" refers to a silk-effect modal: 100% modal, a cellulose fibre that reproduces the sheen and softness of silk, without the fragility or the cost of real hand-knotted silk. Acrylic-Cotton Basic, for its part, combines acrylic and cotton.
To choose between them, Modal Silk favours the high-end visual effect, and works particularly well in a living room with a large picture window where the light sets the sheen dancing. Acrylic-Cotton Basic favours tactile comfort and visual warmth, better suited to a cosy classic living room or a main bedroom.
For reading the patterns and fitting them into a contemporary scheme, the complete oriental rug guide covers the aesthetic side. To spot quality beyond density, see how to recognise a quality rug.
“High density does not make a great rug. It makes a great rug possible.”
4. How to read a Persian pattern
The high density of 3 million points/m² makes the complexity of the Persian pattern especially visible, organised as it is around a well-established grammar:
The central medallion is the focal point. An oval or polygonal shape, richly decorated, often with floral arabesques framed by a stylised inner border. On a high-density Samara you can see colour gradients within the medallion itself, where a low-density piece would show flat blocks.
The herati border (several bands framing the field) marks the boundary between the outside and the centre. A “rich” border has three to five successive bands: a narrow outer one, a wide main one, a narrow inner one. Each band tells its own sub-pattern (palmettes, leaves, geometric motifs).
Palmettes and arabesques fill the field between the medallion and the border. The higher the density of the rug, the more legible the complexity of these “secondary” motifs.
The boteh (a stylised teardrop motif, the ancestor of paisley) sometimes appears repeated in the border or the field.
These motifs are not decorative at random: they inherit a language of symbols that the Persian rug crystallised over several centuries. The tree of life, the paradise garden, the royal hunt and the starry sky are recurring themes.
5. Sizes available 150 x 230 → 400 x 500
The Casemira Persian collection covers a range of 5 standard sizes:
| Size | Area | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 150 x 230 cm | 3.45 m² | Living room 12-15 m², standard bedroom |
| 160 x 230 cm | 3.68 m² | Living room 15-20 m², main bedroom |
| 200 x 300 cm | 6.00 m² | Living room 20-25 m², principal bedroom |
| 300 x 400 cm | 12.00 m² | Large living room 30 m² and over |
| 400 x 500 cm | 20.00 m² | Very large reception room, grand sitting room |
Not every size is available on every model. The 150 x 230 is rarer, found mainly on certain Isfahan models. The 400 x 500 is the pinnacle of the collection, with a few very exclusive Samara models that can reach the top of the catalogue range for the large size.
To confirm a size choice in the context of your own room, see 200 x 300 large living-room rugs and what size rug to choose.
6. The Persian rug in a contemporary living room
A high-density Persian rug works particularly well in two contemporary decorating registers:
The haute couture living room. Pared-back furniture, a restrained palette (charcoal, beige, off-white), and a single burgundy or indigo Persian rug as the signature piece. The contrast between the richness of the Persian pattern and the restraint around it creates a dialogue between tradition and modernity that really works.
The reinterpreted classic living room. Classic but pared-back furniture (leather chesterfield sofa, veined marble, brushed brass), with a cream or ivory Persian rug in an Isfahan pattern. The classic codes hold together, modernised by contained proportions and a contained palette.
Best avoided: a living room already busy with pattern (patterned wallpaper, ornate furniture, several patterned textiles). A high-density Persian rug needs visual space to express its complexity. In a room that is already busy, it becomes one pattern among many and loses its force.
The Persian rug also works very well in a principal bedroom, in placement A (under the bed, extending all the way round) in a 200 x 300 size. The depth of the fibre and the richness of the pattern turn the bedroom into a refined space.
7. Certificate of authenticity, fringes, origin
Three things come with Casemira Persian rugs:
The certificate of authenticity. Every Persian model is supplied with a certificate of authenticity issued by the producer. The document states the exact composition (Modal Silk or Acrylic-Cotton Basic), the weaving density (3,000,000 points/m²), the origin (Turkey), and the exact model. Keep it for future resale value or for insurance.
Decorative fringes. Every model in the Samara Modal Silk range is supplied with decorative fringes built into the short ends. These fringes, traditional on Persian rugs, frame the edges and give a high-end finish. They are decorative fringes, not structural ones (they do not carry the weave of the rug).
Turkish origin. Every model is made in Turkey on modern high-precision looms. Turkey is today one of the world centres of contemporary Persian production, inheriting a thousand-year-old tradition (Ottoman rugs, kilims, historic Hereke pieces) and adapting it to precise industrial technology.
Persian models have no samples: to help you decide, they come with free returns within 30 days.
8. Care for a high-density rug
Caring for a high-density Persian rug is more delicate than caring for a standard polypropylene one:
Vacuuming. Weekly, in the direction of the pile, with no rotating brush (the brush tears at the fine fibre). Moderate suction. On the Samara Modal Silk pieces, pay particular attention to the fringes, which should not be vacuumed directly.
Fresh stains. Blot immediately with a clean white cloth and cool clear water. Avoid ordinary household products unless you have tested them first. Modal Silk can react to strong acids (concentrated vinegar) or to solvents. See the detailed method in how to clean a rug, in the material-by-material section.
A deep clean every one or two years. Use a specialist rug cleaner that handles fine pieces. That investment protects the fibre and the value of the rug over time.
Rotate every 6 months. Turn the rug 180° to even out the wear between the traffic zone and the quieter areas. This matters particularly on large sizes, where one half can take far more footfall.
Protection from light. If the rug sits in strong direct sunlight, fit curtains or blinds that filter UV during the sunniest hours. According to textile industry standards, prolonged exposure to direct UV can alter the dyes even on modern stabilised fibres.
Three Casemira Persian rugs
Navy & Turquoise Silk-Effect Persian Rug - Samara
Red Silk-Effect Persian Rug - Samara No. 11
Cream & Navy Persian Rug - Isfahan No. 09
9. FAQ: Persian rugs
Your questions about Persian rugs
Are Casemira Persian rugs made of natural silk?
No. The Samara models (more than 10) are made of Modal Silk, a silk-effect modal (a cellulose fibre) that reproduces the sheen and softness of silk without the fragility. The Isfahan models (more than 10) are made of Acrylic-Cotton Basic, in acrylic and cotton. This transparency matters: Casemira offers contemporary high-end Persian-style rugs in modern fibres (modal, acrylic and cotton), not old hand-knotting in natural silk.
What does a density of 3,000,000 points per m² mean?
One weaving point every 0.57 mm. To the naked eye at a normal distance, the individual points disappear and the eye sees only continuous shading. That density gives a fineness of pattern comparable to the very best historic hand-knotted rugs, achieved through precise modern machine production.
What is the difference between Modal Silk and Acrylic-Cotton Basic?
Modal Silk (Samara range, more than 10 models) gives a silky, smooth feel and a pearly sheen. Acrylic-Cotton Basic (Isfahan range, more than 10 models) gives a matt, warmer feel. The density is identical in both cases, at 3,000,000 points/m².
How much does a Casemira Persian rug cost?
Prices run from the small Acrylic-Cotton sizes, the most accessible, to the large Samara rugs in Modal Silk, the most expensive; a 160 x 230 or a 200 x 300 in Modal Silk sits in between. The product page for each model shows the exact price.
Does the Persian rug come with a certificate of authenticity?
Yes. All Casemira Persian models are supplied with a certificate of authenticity issued by the producer. The certificate states the composition, the weaving density, the origin (Turkey) and the exact model. Keep it for resale value or for insurance.
How do you clean a Persian rug?
Vacuum weekly with no rotating brush, in the direction of the pile. Fresh stains: blot with a clean cloth and cool water, and never use a product without testing it first. Have it deep-cleaned every one or two years by a specialist rug cleaner that handles fine pieces. Rotate it 180° every 6 months.
Written by the Casemira team, based in Brittany. Find out more about Casemira.
