Sultanabad Rugs

Sultanabad rugs are admired for a reason. Their appeal lies not in ornament alone, but in the way they furnish a room with ease, balance and confidence. Known for their more open, decorative pattern and softened colour palettes, Sultanabad rugs have a distinctive sense of presence that feels both established and deeply liveable.

The name itself comes from historic Sultanabad, now Arak, in west-central Iran, a town founded in 1808 that had become an important centre of carpet production by the end of the 19th century. Today, many Sultanabad-style rugs are hand-knotted in Afghanistan, where a long weaving tradition, hand-spun wool and nuanced natural dyes bring particular depth, softness and character to the finished piece. 

At Rugs of Petworth, our collection of Sultanabad rugs and carpets is shaped through personal sourcing and long-standing relationships with trusted makers and dealers across the rug-producing world. Each piece is chosen individually for its character, craftsmanship and decorative integrity. 

Whether you are drawn to the heritage of a true Sultanabad rug or to newer pieces that carry the same generous drawing and furnishing quality, these rugs are for those who care where things come from and what they bring to a room. What distinguishes our Sultanabad carpet collection is not scale, but judgement.

Over more than two decades, we have built relationships with skilled producers and trusted sources in Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nepal, allowing us to assemble a collection that is carefully considered and truly unique.

Every handmade Sultan rug in our collection is selected for more than technique alone. We look for quality in the wool, clarity in the drawing, harmony in the colour and, above all, individuality. No two are exactly alike. Each carries its own sense of place and authority. For our customers, a rug is rarely an afterthought, but a piece that sets the tone of a space and shapes how it is lived in. A handmade antique Sultanabad rug offers exactly that kind of depth: heritage, material character and decorative confidence that endures.