Vintage Persian Qashqai Gabbeh Rug

From the sun-drenched plains and windswept highlands of the Zagros Mountains in Southwestern Iran comes this monumental vintage Gabbeh.

A powerful and authentic expression of nomadic artistry. Woven by the skilled hands of a Qashqai weaver in the mid-to-late 20th century, this rug is not merely a decorative object but a tangible piece of cultural history. The very name "Gabbeh" translates to "raw" or "natural" , and this piece is a testament to that ethos: a soulful, unpretentious, and deeply personal creation born from a life lived in harmony with the rhythms of nature. Its generous, room-sized dimensions are a rare and captivating find, capable of anchoring a grand space with warmth, character, and an unparalleled story.   

The vast, open field is a masterpiece of natural dyeing, glowing with a rich, variegated madder red that speaks of the earth and sunset. This painterly effect, known as abrash, results from the hand-spun, lanolin-rich wool absorbing the vegetal dyes in subtly different ways — a celebrated characteristic that guarantees the rug's handmade authenticity. Underfoot, the exceptionally thick, plush pile offers comfort and resilience born of its original purpose: to provide a sanctuary of warmth against the cold mountain ground for a nomadic family. Professionally cleaned and in excellent vintage condition, its vibrant palette of madder red, saffron yellow, indigo blue, and earthy green remains as vivid as the landscape that inspired it.   

This Gabbeh is a woven narrative, a personal story told through a lexicon of ancient symbols. At its heart, a single, stylised deer or gazelle stands in quiet contemplation — a potent emblem of grace, gentleness, and the natural world. Encircling this serene scene is a lively procession of guardian dogs, a motif symbolising protection and loyalty, who patrol the border and safeguard the inner world of the rug. The charming simplicity of these figures is a hallmark of the Gabbeh style, where the weaver's personal expression and emotional connection to her surroundings take precedence over formal design. Each charming irregularity is a whisper of the weaver's hand and a testament to the belief that only the divine can be perfect, making this not just a rug, but a unique and soulful work of folk art.   

In a contemporary interior, this Gabbeh offers a powerful counterpoint to minimalist or modern design. Its raw, textural honesty and bold, elemental composition provide a grounding, humanising force. For the modern connoisseur, this "rawness" represents the ultimate sophistication — an escape from the sterile and mass-produced into a world of authentic craft and tangible history. It is an investment in timeless artistry, a piece that will imbue any living room, great room, or creative space with a sense of history, authenticity, and the enduring spirit of the Persian nomad.

Creator: Qashqai Peoples 

Place of Origin: Persian, Iran

Date of Manufacture: Circa 1970

Materials and Techniques: Hand-Knotted Wool, Hand-Spun Wool, Natural Vegetal Dyes

Condition: Excellent vintage condition. Professionally cleaned. The pile is thick and full. Colours are vibrant. Structurally sound.

Dimensions: 340 x 253 cm