Gabbeh began as a household item for nomads, and in modern times it has acquired artistic and international appeal.
Gabbeh is a thick, hand-knotted carpet woven in southwestern Iran.
"Tekushi" refers to the traditional technique of tying knots one by one.
Nomads are pastoralists who move with their livestock seasonally.
Pre-Christian origins
The culture of making wool carpets developed throughout Western Asia from before the Common Era.
The oldest surviving pile carpet is the Pazyryk carpet, woven in the 5th century BC.
Evidence of Gabbeh itself appeared later, but it is in the same lineage as a thick, portable rug.
The people of the Zagros Mountains required durable textiles because they lived a nomadic lifestyle.
This is thought to be the origin of Gabbeh.
Developments during the Persian period
During the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century, high-quality carpets produced in urban areas by court workshops flourished.
Meanwhile, the Qashqai and Luli peoples of the Fars region continued to weave simple, thick, long-pile rugs for home use.
The word "Gabbeh" means "rough" or "roughly" in Persian.
The patterns include the "tree of life," "deer," and "fish," and are woven as symbols of wishes for the prosperity and health of the family.
Another feature is the use of plant-based dyeing techniques, which use natural materials such as indigo and pomegranate.
Transition to the present day
In the second half of the 20th century, traditional Gabbeh went into temporary decline due to the sedentarization of nomadic peoples and the spread of chemical dyes.
However, since the 1990s, the revival of natural dyes and strict quality control have once again brought it into the spotlight on the international market.
The simple and warm design was highly praised, especially in Japan and Europe.
Today's Gabbehs have both a rustic feel, thanks to their traditional thickness, and a high-density, sophisticated finish.
In addition, by introducing certification of origin and fair trade, we have established a highly reliable brand value.
