Mongol, Afghan and even Safavid were not interested in Kerman and only
Aqa Mohammad Khan attacked and destroyed this city, which was rebuilt
after a time. Nevertheless, comparing with other important cities,
Kerman was a poor city.
past, Kerman was in the way of caravans, traveling to India, which
made it very important.
weaving is very old in Kerman. The oldest carpet discovered in Kerman,
belongs to about 500 years ago, which proves the precedence of weaving
in this city.
to historical documents, this famous rug has been exported to India,
in Akbar Gourkani Emperor period (17th century).
1604 A.D., a Portuguese tourist, called "Pedro Teshira", has
classified Kerman rugs as the second grade carpet and said, "Yazd
rugs have the best images, finest weaving and are the most precious
ones, while third grade valuable rugs are woven in Khorasan".
Chardin, a French jeweler and tourist, who has stayed in Iran for a
while, in the last quarter of 17th century A.D., has mentioned to the
export of Kerman rugs to India. He has also noticed, that rugs known
as Turkish in European markets, have been woven generally in Kerman
and more in Systan, but were entered into Europe via Turkey.
most magnificent Kerman rugs belonged to "Prince Roman Sangoshko",
which are known by the same name throughout the world and are
masterpieces of carpet weaving in Safavid era.
weaving has been very common in Kerman, from long times ago, so that
name of Kerman has been always reminder of carpet weaving . Kerman rug
is so famous, that even in Persian literature symbolizes resistant,
stable and strong people.
industries of Kerman are textile, wool beating, spinning, wood,
cashmere and Warsaw, but it is worth to notice, that carpet weaving is
their main occupation.
decades of 1920 and 1930, American were organizing carpet weaving in
Kerman, so that in 1935 about 90% of Kerman woven were exported to
United States of America. After that local merchants took the market
and when World War II finished, Kerman rug export continued.