An authentic oriental rug is a handmade carpet that is either knotted with pile or woven without pile. These rugs normally come from a broad geographical region extending from China and Vietnam in the east to Turkey, Maghreb countries, Cyprus and Iran in the west and the Caucasus in the north to India in the south. People from different cultures, countries, racial groups and religious faiths are involved in the production of oriental rugs.

Oriental carpets include those produced in:

 

Oriental rugs are organized by origin: Persian rugs, Arab rugs, Anatolian rugs, Kurdish rugs, Caucasian rugs, Central Asian rugs, Turkestanian rugs, Chinese rugs, Tibetan rugs and Indian rugs. 

 

The finest carpets and rugs in the world are made in what was once called the Orient, that geographical area that inclues countries such as Iran, Tibet, Nepal and China. With a history of production dating back to before common era in some of these countries, it is no wonder that traditional rugs are revered for their superior quality and craftsmanship.