Located in the mountainous western Iran, Hamadan is among the oldest cities in Iran; and dating back to 3,000 BC, it one of the the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. With a history going back to the bronze age, Hamadan has of course fallen under the rule of countless regional powers including the Medians, Achaemenids, Assyrians, Mongols, and Ottomans, even being mentioned in the Biblical book of Ezra. Obviously, Hamadan has played a major part in the history of the region.

Hamadan as a city and province has long been known for it's exceptional handicrafts, especially rug making. Carpets from this region incorporate designs from the approx. 1,500 surrounding villages. On average, two distinct designs have been produced from each village, giving an astonishing 3,000 different types of Hamadan rugs.

Made of high quality, thick wool, Hamadan rugs are heavy and substantial. A distinctive feature are single wefted edges (a single weft utilizes one piece of yarn woven throughout the rug). Another identifying feature in Hamadans is a geometric diamond or hexagon medallion pattern, usually with  medallion-and-corner design, or all-over boteh or Herati. Common field colors include red, blue, dark brown and camel, with motifs and outlines often in black, green, and gold.

Toysarkan                                Asadabad                               Nahavand

Carpets from three different cities in the Hamadan province