What is a Gabbeh rug?

Where do Gabbeh rugs come from? Gabbeh is a type of rug that is woven by nomads in the Lorestan and Qashqai regions of Iran. In the past, Gabbeh rug was used as a small rug by nomads. Nowadays it is used not only in Iran but also in other countries as beautiful handicrafts in the interior decoration of houses.

Red Gabbeh rug

Gabbeh is a type of Persian hand-woven rug with coarse knots, which has 1 to 3 cm long piles. The main materials used in Gabbeh carpet are sheep wool and goat wool. They are obtained from the best wool of nomadic sheep.

Nomads first spin the wool used in woolen Gabbeh rug by hand and then prepare it for dyeing. The color used in Gabbeh is obtained completely naturally from plants in nature.

Gabbeh Movie(1996) Directed by Mohsen Makhmalbaf

Gabbeh rugs history

The history of the emergence of Gabbeh rug, like a handmade carpet, most likely dates back to early humans. They first used animal skins for the underlay. Then, using the knot technique, they wove underlays from animal wool. One of these underlays is Gabbeh carpets.

Gabbeh rug weaving dates back 150 years to Fars Province, Iran. The Fars region includes the Qashqai, Bakhtiari, and Khamseh tribes. Qashqai Gabbeh is one of the best Iranian woolen Gabbehs. If you are interested in buying a Gabbeh, it is best to familiarize yourself with its specifications.

Gabbeh rug with undyed wool

Gabbeh pronunciation

Gabbeh is an Iranian carpet, sometimes pronounced as “ga-bay”. The weaving of a Gabbeh is similar to a handmade carpet, except that Gabbeh carpet usually has more piles. Iranian wool Gabbeh rug is made of high-quality wool and natural colors. Gabbeh rug adds beauty to all kinds of spaces with its simple designs.

What are the characteristics of Persian Gabbeh rug?

Gabbeh rug is usually woven in small dimensions.
The height of the pile of the Gabbeh reaches up to 3 cm.
Gabbeh is usually woven on horizontal looms.
Symmetrical knots and asymmetrical knots are used in weaving.
Each meter of Gabbeh rug weighs about 3 kg.
Gabbeh has more wefts and sometimes the number of wefts reaches 8.
The Gabbeh are woven with simple motifs inspired by nature.
Gabbeh rug has very high durability and strength.
Gabbeh is one of the most sustainable and environmentally friendly carpets.
It is warm and beneficial for bone health.

You can read this article: Our Earth Needs Green Eco-Friendly Rugs

Blue Gabbeh rug ,the most sustainable rugs

What are the tools used in Gabbeh rug weaving?

It depends on the type of knot. For the asymmetrical knot, we need a knife, a comb, scissors, a stick, and a horizontal loom. But to weave the Qashqai Gabbeh, we need a hook, scissors, a comb, a stick, and a vertical loom.

The method of weaving Gabbeh rug is first to knit a row, then a thick weft is passed. It is beaten with a comb, and then the thin weft is passed. They repeat passing thin and thick wefts once more and then they start knitting the next row. Because thick wool is used to weave the Gabbeh, it is finished in a much shorter time than the handmade carpet.

Gabbeh weaving

What is the difference between Gabbeh and rug?

Two types of thick and thin wefts are used in rug weaving, but more thick wefts are used to weave a Gabbeh.
Gabbeh is woven with long piles and this problem makes it heavier than carpet.
The designs of Gabbeh are simple and imaginary designs, but rug designs are more complex.
Gabbeh is usually woven in small sizes, but carpets are woven in small and large sizes.
Due to the long piles, compared to rugs, Gabbeh rug is warmer.
Gabbehs are dyed with natural materials, but chemical dyes are also used in carpets.
It takes less time to weave a Gabbeh rug than a rug of the same size.

Qashqai Gabbeh

Principles of Gabbeh rug Maintenance

Don’t keep the Gabbeh rug like a handwoven carpet in a humid room without ventilation.
Place the Gabbeh in a place where there is good airflow and good light in the room.
Do not spread the Gabbeh on plaster and limestone floors.
Avoid placing heavy items such as sofa and table legs on the Gabbeh.
The piles of the Persian Gabbeh rug are long and a good place for food waste and dust to stay, so sweep the carpet every week.
Avoid constantly placing the Gabbeh carpet in front of the sun and preferably use curtains for the windows.

Persian minimal Gabbeh rugs

How to clean Gabbeh rugs?

Vacuum rugs weekly to prevent rot and damage to the wool fibers. If liquid spills on the rug, first scoop it up with a spoon. Then wash it with water and a household detergent such as vinegar and place it in the sun to dry. Do not use harsh chemicals to remove stains.

Gabbeh rug with Lion & sun design

Please look at this article: Introducing the Minimal Interior and Suitable Persian Rug for It!

Buy Gabbeh rugs

Gabbeh is woven by Iranian nomads and is highly valued as a handmade rug. The price of Gabbeh rug depends on factors such as the quality of the weave, fibers, and size. The simple design of Gabbeh has made it an attractive element in minimalist decoration.

In this article, we have tried to tell you what Gabbeh rug is and introduce you to the differences between Gabbeh and carpet. To buy Iranian Gabbeh rug minimalist decoration, you can visit the Vernacarpets online collection. If you have had experience using Gabbeh rug, share your valuable experiences with us.