Ziegler & Peshawar Area Rugs: The Antique Look, Explained

Arsh's Rug Library · Rug Styles

Ziegler and Peshawar rugs give you the look of a well-loved antique in a rug that is new and ready for daily life. They are the heart of our transitional collection.

Where the style began

In the late 1800s, a Manchester trading company called Ziegler & Co. commissioned rugs in northwest Persia for European and American buyers. They asked weavers to soften the dense Persian patterns into larger, more open designs in muted colors that suited Western homes. The style became known by the company's name. Today rugs in this style are woven in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and many are called Peshawar rugs after the city of Peshawar, a historic center of the rug trade.

What gives them their look

• Hand-spun wool: our Ziegler and Peshawar rugs use a blend of merino, New Zealand and Ghazni wool, spun by hand.
• Abrash: hand-spun wool takes dye a little differently from batch to batch, so the color shifts gently across the rug. This is a sign of a handmade rug, not a flaw.
• Stone washing and sun drying: after knotting, the rugs are washed and dried in the sun for a soft hand and a natural sheen.
• Open, softened designs: large florals and vines with plenty of open field, in beige, taupe, green, blue and black.

How to judge quality

Look for a clear design on the back, a firm and even pile, straight sides and fringe that is part of the warp rather than sewn on. Our handmade rug checklist walks through each test.

Where they work best

Their muted colors sit easily with both a contemporary sofa and an heirloom chair, which makes them ideal for living rooms, bedrooms and open-plan spaces. See our traditional rugs for the same craftsmanship in classic Persian designs.

Shop the look

Ziegler & Peshawar Rugs to Shop

Ozella9'2" x 12'0" · Nude / Dark GreenDaine8'11" x 12'5" · Peach / BrownChic Ziegler Reya9'9" x 13'5" · Gray / BeigeCaroll9'0" x 12'1" · Beige / Tan

See all transitional rugs