Semi-antique Qashqai gabbeh rug from Iran. 284x133 cms

This stunning semi-antique Qashqai Gabbeh rug truly stands out, ticking all the boxes: unique, crafted with natural dyes, rare, and one-of-a-kind. Large antique or vintage Gabbehs are hard to come by, and this piece is a great example. The oversized boteh motifs, arranged in sets of three, face opposite directions in each row, creating a dynamic sense of movement.

When I purchased this rug from the Shiraz region, I was told that the distinctive reddish terracotta color came from local Shiraz henna. The remaining colors are primarily undyed sheep’s wool.

The wool quality is soft, with a long, plush pile. This piece is a fascinating blend of rustic tribal appeal and an elegant use of the boteh motif, making it truly special.

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size: 1960s

Origin: Qashqai tribe, Iran

Date of weaving: 1960s

Traditionally a sleeping rug, a gabbeh is a hand-woven pile rug of coarse quality characterized by an abstract design that relies upon open fields of color and a playfulness with geometry. This type of rug is popular among the populations of the Zagros Mountains of Iran, including Kurdish, Luri and Qashqai people.The gabbeh is usually woven by women.

Gabbeh carpets are much thicker and coarser than other Persian carpets; sometimes they can be as much as one inch or 2.5 cm in depth. In fact, they are more a variety of kilim than carpet. The word “gabbeh” comes from the Persian گبه, meaning raw, natural, uncut. This is a rough and primitive carpet.

Gabbeh patterns are of a very basic kind with only a limited number of decorative, mostly rectangular objects, animals and vegetable motives. In a gabbeh usually bright colors, such as yellow and red, are used. Often undyed natural wool is used (brown, beige, black, white etc.). Although large fields of solid color are used in gabbeh designs, the color is variegated (the color varies throughout the rug, with the appearance of differently colored zones).