What is a Gabbeh Oriental Rug?

Gabbeh rugs are another fine selection within the market. A Gabbeh possesses a folk inspired design along its body that stands out in any modern household or personal rug collection.

 

History behind the Gabbeh Rugs

 

 

During the late 19th century, Gabbeh rugs were made by tribal weavers who lived in the Zagros Mountains. The nomadic Qashqai tribes of Southern Iran are the original crafters of the Persian Gabbeh rugs; however, other tribes such as the Lurs, the Kurds and the Bahktiari weave Gabbeh rugs as well.

The name of Gabbeh area rugs vary from tribe to tribe. For example, sometimes they are referred to as "a Lori rug” by the heritage of the tribe who has woven them. On occasion, they are acknowledged by the name of the city in which they are most often traded in. For example, a rug from the city of Shiraz could be known as a “Shiraz rug" or a "Shiraz-Gabbeh.

 

Materials and Texture

 

 

The Gabbeh have a woolen foundation and composition. The wool used is normally high quality from the neck of the sheep bred by a Gabbeh’s crafting tribe. The rug’s structure tend to be a rough cut full of rich color— this leaves the carpet with a strong construction and smooth texture.

 

Weaving technique

 

 

Each knot in the rug is knotted one by one. Because of that, the knots per inch count are extremely low, coming down into centimeters. Since a Gabbeh rug is hand-knotted, it takes several months for the rug to be finished. The average knot count is around 50-150 KPSI making them a low knot density.

 

Designs and Patterns

 

 

Gabbeh patterns tend to be basic as they only feature a limited number of decorative designs which mostly include rectangular objects and animals. As for the rug’s colors, bright tints such as yellow and red are normally utilized; however, a contrast in colors is usually found with a cross between yellow and red, offering the rug shades that range far and wide. Overall, Gabbeh carpets are considered to be one of kind works of art due to the unique input of their weavers.

 

Colors

 

 

The color of a Gabbeh is produced through vegetable dyes. The natural vegetable dyes in Gabbeh rugs help the fabric retain their freshness even after it’s dyed. Again, many shades of yellow and red are the common piece of a Gabbeh’s color.

 

Available Sizes

 

Gabbeh carpets are most commonly found in 3x5. Though the rug is smaller, the level of design and work poured into them is incomparable.

Gabbeh rugs for sale