In this page we have attempted to compile a primer of the basic rug textbooks that any beginning to intermediate to advanced collector can safely rely on. Every attempt has been to address availability; books that are widely considered as best of their kind are noted, availability can sometimes be an issue. When a book is known to be out-of-print, it is noted.

 

General / Survey

Eiland, Murray Oriental Carpets: A Complete Guide 4th edit.
- one of the best overall books on oriental rugs extant, bar none; readily available; everyone from the beginning to experienced collector will find this to be one book they keep returning to.

Opie, James Tribal Rugs: A Complete Guide to Nomadic and Village Carpets
- very comprehensive book, with a focus on tribal weavings; readily available; Jim Opie's expertise on Persian tribal rugs is to be found, but all regions are well represented.

Thompson, Jon Oriental Carpets
- another book every beginner should have, but not as comprehensive as the first two (above); organized by city, village and tribal rugs, making for an easy introduction to the casual reader.

Caucasian

Schurmann, Ulrich. Caucasian Rugs
- considered to be the classic volume on Caucasian rugs, unfortunately it is out-of-print; it has been re-published a couple times since 1963, used copies are the way to go, hard to find

Benett, Ian Oriental Rugs: Volume 1 Caucasian
- this is a readily available very good book on Caucasian rugs, profusely illustrated from auction house lots (mostly Nagel's)

Wright, Richard Rugs and Flatweaves of the Transcaucasus
- from the exhibit back in 1969 that first put tribal rugs on the radar for the American public.

Kaffel, Ralph Caucasian Prayer Rugs
- focused solely on Caucasian prayer rugs; contains many early 19th century examples.

Anatolian/Turkish

Bruggemann, W. and Bohmer, H. Rugs of the Peasants and Nomads of Anatolia
- considered to be the best book on Anatolian village rugs; unfortunately it's out-of-print and the book itself has become quite collectable, especially in the rare English version

Zipper, K and C. Fritzsche Oriental Rugs: Volume 4 Turkish
- this is the only readily available very good overview book on Anatolian rugs, profusely illustrated from auction house lots (mostly Nagel's)

Kircheim, E. H. Orient Stars
- this is a massive tome, in size depth, size and shear weight (!). The focus is almost entirely on very early Anatolian pieces, many of them fragmentary in nature. Although it's just over ten years since first being published, it's already a collectable, highly recommended for the serious Anatolian collector.

Kurdish

Eagleton, William An Introduction to Kurdish Rugs and other Weavings
- this was the first book focused strictly on Kurdish rug authored by former U.S. ambassador Eagleton who is one of the foremost authorities on Kurdish weavings.

Stanzer, Wilfried Kordi: Lives-Rugs-Flatweaves of the Kurds in Khorasan
- while not focused on very old pieces, a very comprehensive book of the Kurdish peoples in Eastern Iran with forward from Adil Besim, an Austrian dealer/collector

Burns, James D. Antique Rugs of Kurdistan, A Historical Legacy of Woven Art
- a massive quality publication, an important contribution to Oriental rug studies by a noted collector of Kurdish rugs; includes an essay by Dr. Mehrdad Izady.

Persian Tribal

Opie, James Tribal Rugs of Southern Persia
-if you are into Persian tribal rugs, this is still the reference text, unfortunately out of print, but shows-up occasionally used, very worth getting

Housego, Jenny Tribal Rugs
- a tiny little book, but under $15, if offers a great view of mostly Persian tribal rugs, however most of the pictures are b&w instead of color

Tanavoli, Parviz Shahsavan, Iranian Rugs and Textiles
- if you are into Shahsavan weavings, this is the one to have, unfortunately it's out of print and fairly hard to find used

Balouch

Boucher Jeff W. Baluch Woven Treasures
- best book on Balouch(i) weavings, most of Col. Boucher's collection is now in the Indianapolis museum, but the book is still readily available

Azadi, Siawosch Carpets in the Baluch Tradition
- not certain of current status, includes a chapter on the so-called "Kurd-Baluchi" type

Craycraft, M. & Halley, A. Belouch Prayer Rugs
- focused on Balouch prayer rugs, derived from an exhibit on the west coast by the authors, this is an excellent volume for any Balouch collector

Turkoman

Mackie, Louise & Thompson, Jon. Turkmen
- this is the classic text on Turkomen weaving, a must have for any Turkophile, fairly readily available

Jourdan, Uwe Oriental Rugs: Vol. 5 Turkoman
- profusely illustrated from auction house lots (mostly Nagel) and museums

Azadi, Siawosch Turkoman Carpet, the Enthnographic Significance of their Ornaments
- this book's subtitle distinguishes this book from other Turkoman books; traces tribal migrations back to the 10th century.

Loges, Werner Turkoman Tribal Rugs
- identifies unique characteristics of various Turkoman tribal weavings; includes color plates and illustrations of ornaments, with tables highlighting structural features and colors of the subject of each plate.

Eastern Turkestan

Bidder, Hans Carpets from Eastern Turkesta
- historical study with technical discussion of the carpet craft highlighting Turkish, Hellenistic, Buddist and Chinese influences on motifs and patterns, color plates.

Chinese

Lorentz, H.A. A View of Chinese Rugs
- viewed as the most authoritative book on Chinese rugs with color plates and geographical & historical backgrounds of textiles from that area.

Kilims

Davies, Peter The Tribal Eye, this has since been replaced by: Antique Kilims of Anatolia.
- a great overview of Anatolian kilims, the photography is excellent, readily available

Alastair Hull, Jose Luczyc-Wyhowska Kilim - The Complete Guide - History Pattern Technique Identification
- a very comprehensive, encyclopedia-like, book on kilims that covers all regions, not as deep as some Anatolian-only books, but a very good overview, readily available

Cootner, Cathryn Anatolian Kilims
- focused on early Anatolian kilims, the photos will force you to view kilims horizontally, a revelation to reading kilims the right way

Soumak

Wertime, John T. Sumak Bags of Northwest Persia and Transcaucasia
- probably the only book dedicated only to sumac bags, focused mostly on trancauscasian pieces

Yastiks

Morehouse, Brian. Yastiks-Cushion Covers and Storage Bags of Anatolia
- this is the only great book on the subject of yastiks: if you are into yastiks, especially Anatolian, you must have this book, still readily available

Historical

McMullan, Joseph V. Islamic Carpets
- this is one of the great rug books of all time, published in 1965, includes fantastic plates, unfortunately out-of-print and highly collectable

Edwards, A. Cecil The Persian Carpet
- first published in 1953, this was the result of the author's survey of weaving production in Persia over the span of a decade; mostly focused on city carpets, replete with cartoon drawings

Periodicals

HALI
- THE periodical of the field. The early ones are by far the most useful and informative; unfortunately they have since become collector's items onto themselves. HALI used to offer "damaged" copies as specials on their website, where for about $4 you could buy HALIs that had only slightest nick on a corner; they have since discontinued this practice.

Oriental Rug Review
- out of print, but used copies still pop-up for sale, especially online. For under $150, it's possible to obtain the complete collection that has fifty volumes of very informative articles that are very content rich.