Gabbeh Rugs | Nomadic Wool Rugs | Djoharian

Gabbeh Rugs from the Djoharian Collection

The Gabbeh is among the best-known of all hand-knotted nomadic rugs. It originates from south-west Iran – the province of Fars at the edge of the Zagros mountains – where tribes such as the Qashqai, Lurs and Bakhtiari traditionally knotted it for their own use, often as a sleeping mat. Genuine Persian Gabbeh rugs are still made today on portable ground looms.

Material & character

Pure shorn wool from highland sheep is used for a Gabbeh, dyed with natural plant pigments. Characteristic is its unusually high pile of around 2.5 cm. With mostly fewer than 70,000 knots per square metre, the classic Gabbeh is deliberately coarse and robust – which is exactly what makes it soft, warm and exceptionally hard-wearing.

Persian, Indian & Afghan Gabbeh

Alongside the classic Persian Gabbeh from Fars, we also carry high-quality Gabbeh rugs in the same style from India and occasionally Afghanistan. Iranian Gabbeh are prized for their softness and longevity; well-made Indian pieces impress with precise workmanship and attractive value. The origin of each piece is clearly stated.

Gabbeh & Loribaft – the finer relative

The Loribaft ("knotted by the Lori tribe") holds a special place: woven in the Gabbeh style but considerably finer, and regarded as the top grade among Gabbeh rugs. Our fine Loribaft pieces can be found in their own Loribaft category.

In the room

Gabbeh rugs suit modern, youthful interiors, natural wood floors and the boho or industrial style. As runners they enliven hallways; in larger formats they add a warm accent under glass tables. Their robustness also makes them ideal for high-traffic rooms.

Djoharian Collection – since 1967. With roots in the Grand Bazaar of Tehran, we verify every piece for provenance and quality. Expert advice, fair production under Label STEP, direct import.