The Oriental Collection - Catalog - Page 41
T R A D I T I O N A L PAT T E R N S
GABBEH RUGS
During the late 19th century, gabbeh rugs were woven by
also as wraps or bedding to help insulate against the bitter
tribal weavers who lived in the majestic Zagros Mountains.
cold of the rugged mountains.
This mountain range (the largest in Iran) rises up to nearly
15,000ft and is often covered in snow. The Qashqai, are
These rugs were purely indigenous and utilitarian tribal tex-
the tribe most associated with weaving gabbehs. They are
tiles that were not intended for the rug trade. The earlier
based in southern Iran near the historic city of Shiraz. But
examples had rich saturated natural dye colours and bold
other tribes, such as the Lurs, the Kurds and the Bahktiari
graphic designs. Often a chain of several diamond motifs was
also weave these rugs.
depicted in bright primary colours. Complex designs were often abstracted to their basic elements in these rugs. During
The word gabbeh translates closely to unfinished or un-
the early and mid-20th century gabbeh rugs became plainer
clipped. As such, it was more of a descriptive term. Originally
in design. Often a field of natural un-dyed wool and stylized
these rugs were woven for the weaver’s own use with the pile
zoomorphic designs; goats, camels, dogs, horses and don-
left much longer than normal rugs. The 19th century gabbeh
keys and other animals were featured on these simple rugs.
rugs were very coarsely knotted with long pile. They were
woven relatively quickly without the need for large looms. In
Most of the recent Gabbehs are bursting with colour. The
addition, most of these rugs had wider rows of multiple wefts
weaver’s creativity is given free rein. There is nothing subtle
which rendered the rugs rather floppy and a pliable. This
or understated about them. The beauty of these rugs is their
allowed for them to be used not only as floor coverings but
unmistakable uniqueness.
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