This fine image is typical of a Gabbeh rug. We especially love their handling of reds and its various shades.  

Gabbeh Rugs

Gabbeh rugs are hand-made, hand-dyed Persian rugs. "Gabbeh" (ponounced gab-BAY) is both the the geographic area of Iran where these rugs are made (where these nomadic tribes-people live), and the style of the rug.

Gabbehs are characterized by their very dense wool. It is not uncommon for our Gabbehs to measure 1/4 or even 1/2 inch thick ! Many are made with both wool and cotton, others are 100% wool. They come in sizes from quite small to quite large. A genuine Gabbeh larger than 10' x 12' is very hard to find, and can be quite costly indeed.

Gabbehs are also wonderfully hand dyed. People love these rugs because of the many shades and hues Gabbeh rugs hold. For instance, a red can go from a dark, bordeaux color to a more orange-fire type color in the same rug. This is done with great skill and artistry, and is a major reason why people choose to bring a Gabbeh rug into their homes.

A further trait is the primitive motifs. Since these weavers are nomads, they weave the designs of their own lives into the rugs. This means that many charming images of people, animals and flowers may well populate these works of art. It does not mean that they are supposed to be "for the kids;" on the contrary, they are great works to be enjoyed in your main living areas.

Sometimes the animal motif is so small as occupy only one or two corners of the rug. Some Gabbehs do not have the primitive motif at all, they simply have one or several colors, sometimes in very modern designs. There are Gabbehs for every taste !

Gabbeh rugs are very hard to come by, and so they tend to be quite expensive. This is increasingly the case because of the unpredictable political climate bewteen Iran and the West. We try hard to find good deals for our clients, based on size, price, availablilty and quality. And yes, we can ship your Gabbeh rug to you; we recommend ground service, but if you need it immediately we can still overnight it to you.

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