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Persian Rugs: Gabbeh of Bushehr

Los Angeles Home of Rugs on Jan 26th 2022

Gabbeh rugs have long been a popular feature for interior decor. Gabbeh is a traditional flooring similar to a rug, but they differ from one another in motifs, size, colors, and the number of its long and thick wefts. Such a rug is one of the most popular handwoven of Bushehr. They are common in almost all the villages and even some of the cities of Bushehr.

Gabbeh may do not have any margin or may not be symmetrical. Many of its motifs look like paintings of children, relatively simple and primitive but inspired by nature and surroundings. Patterns of Gabbeh are created by the memory of their weavers. They are entirely free to use any motif, and they can place it anywhere they desire in the pattern. Another significant difference between Gabbeh and rug is the colors palette. A major part of the Gabbeh is weaved using wools in their natural color.

The Bushehr Gabbeh has plain backgrounds in white, cream, brown, black, and grey, and the patterns are made in black, red, dark blue, and other similar colors. The weavers are mostly women who each have a particular motif on their minds, and they skillfully weave them. In general, the common feature of the Gabbeh of Bushehr is the traditional patterns that have been evolved through generations and are artistically valuable.

The materials used in the process of Gabbeh weaving are produced from the wool of the sheep that are bred locally. Today European countries and the Arab States of the Persian Gulf are two major buyers of Bushehr Gabbehs. Therefore, the makers have begun dying the wool with herbal pigments such as orange, blue, green, and yellow to use in the background. The motifs of these products are animals and doll-like. Some of the most famous patterns are Langer (anchor), Khesht (brick), Chang (harp), geometric forms, birds and animals, and kinds of paisley motifs.