Not every rug sold under the Karastan name was woven in North Carolina. Kara Shah rugs were wool rugs power-loomed in Belgium and sold by Karastan, in Persian designs such as Keshan, Bidjar, Serapi and Kirman. They share the Karastan name and many of its design ideas, but they were made elsewhere and have their own labels and numbering.
| Made in | Belgium, on power looms |
|---|---|
| Sold by | Karastan |
| Pile | Wool |
| Designs | Black Keshan, Red Bidjar, Navy Serapi, Ebony Kirman and others |
| Label | Kara Shah, with its own design numbers |
Belgian power-loomed rugs
Belgium has long been a major producer of machine-woven rugs, and its mills developed great skill in weaving Oriental designs. Kara Shah rugs come from that tradition. They were made in sizes such as 8' x 10' and 8' x 11' 6", which differ from the standard sizes woven at Eden.
The designs
- Black Keshan: a Kashan-style design on a black ground. See Kashan Rugs.
- Red Bidjar: a Bidjar-style design on a red ground. See Bidjar Rugs.
- Navy Serapi: a Serapi-style design on navy. See Karastan Serapi Rugs.
- Ebony Kirman: a Kirman-style design on a black ground.
How Kara Shah differs from a North Carolina Karastan
A Kara Shah is a quality wool rug, but it is not the same as a Karastan woven at Eden. It was made on different looms, and its label reads Kara Shah rather than giving a Karastan Original Collection number. Sizes also differ from the standard Karastan sizes. When buying, look for the Kara Shah name and the country of origin on the label. See How to Identify and Date a Vintage Karastan.
