Antique Gabbehs are tribal and rural Persian rugs with a simple geometric pattern and a very high pile. The rugs are made by nomads of the Fars province, in the area of the famous city Shiraz.
Although Antique Gabbehs are not much older than 100 years, the existence of Persian Gabbehs was recorded during Shah Tahmasp, who ruled Iran for 53 years and was the second monarch of the Safavid dynasty (1502-1736). He had ordered the use of Gabbeh rugs along other rugs to welcome and honor King Homayun of India, who took refuge to Iran.
Gabbehs like many other Persian rugs are made with local handspun wool and vegetable dye. Simplified human, animal, and tree motives are usually utilized by Gabbeh weavers, who use their imagination and the environment around them to weave such designs. Although tribal, the abstract and cubist designs of Persian Gabbehs look very modern and match the interiors of today's homes.
(Other spelling: Gabeh)