Lori Gabbeh Rugs
Examples of Lori Gabbeh Rugs & Carpets
Gabbeh are coarse long pile rugs. They are often used as sleeping rugs. Since the rugs were made for their own use rather than as commercial weaving the designs are less influenced by commercial factors.
Some Gabbehs are made with undyed wool. As we see in Lori gabbeh, Fars, Nat. Color C. 1920 to the right browns and tans tend to be the typical color in these very untypical rugs.
Much like a Kazak Rug there can be a number of rows of wefts between each row of knots. See how we see a great deal of white in the brown area in the Lori gabbeh, Fars, C. 1920-40 to the left. It is most notable in the brown area since the brown dyes tend to make the wool brittle and subject to wear. The long pile wears away showing the broad areas of weft underneath.
A number of similarities stand out in looking at these rugs. The reciprocal saw-tooth border is one that Charlie Ellis called a rats tooth border. We see it in five of these six gabbehs. we also see the stripped border in three of the six gabbehs.
Examples:
Luri ‘gabbeh’ bag face
Size: 39cm.(H) x 39cm.(W) / 1ft.3in.(H) x 1ft.3in.(W)
Region: West Asia, Southern & Southwest Persia
Period / Date: Late 19th century (1867 – 1899)
Materials: Wool with goat hair warps
Structure / Technique: Pile, symmetrical knot
Condition: Good
Comments On Condition: Pile is a bit uneven.
Full Description: Technically, this bag face does not have a gabbeh weave, but the gabbeh spirit is evident.
Lori Long Gabbeh Rug, 3rd Quarter 19th C.
Size: 332 x 144 cm.
Luri Gabbeh Rug Fars, Natural Color
Origin: Fars, Southwest Persia, about 1920-30
Size: 7ft.4in. x 4ft.5in. (2.24m. x 1.35m.)
Condition: Small areas of moth damage in lower half, small hole at top left border.
Notes: I have had the opportunity to examine a number of very similar pieces and tend to think of them as a group. They predate the popularity of Gabbehs and were made as beds. They generally use undyed wool for all or most of the colors. This example seems in keeping with that group.
Lori gabbeh, Fars, c.1920-40
Origin: Fars, Southwest Persia, about 1920-40
Size: 6ft.8in. x 4ft. (2.03m. x 1.22m.)
Condition: Overall uneven wear, some moth damage.
Lori Gabbeh, 3rd Quarter 19th C.
Size: 206 x 134 cm.
Lori Gabbeh, c.1850-1899
Origin: SW Persia
Size: 4ft.3in. x 6ft.8in.
Date: 1850-1899
Colors: 9
Description: The intense color and irregular design execution suggests an authentic tribal origin. This irregularity lends charm to what is a simple field motif of three rhomboids on a red field. Two reciprocal borders, one red/orange, the other brown/white, frame the field. A subtle but effective visual impact is created by the skillful combination of color in the simple strips framing the red/orange border. All natural dyes.
Condition: Some areas of low pile in the center. Small hole. Much of the original selvedge survives, as does portions of the end kilims.
Veramin Luri Runner, c.1900
Origin: North Persia, Veramin Region, around 1900
Size: ca. 385 x 95 cm.
Notes: Runner, woven by the Lurs of Veramin, which is evident by the style of drawing, the borders and the brownish colors.
Condition: In good condition with minimal losses to ends.