The gabbeh is not a village workshop product. Historically, these rugs were woven by nomadic, rural peasants of southwest Persia.

The literature on the gabbeh is comparatively sparse. It is widely believed that the word ‘gabbeh’ may be derived from the word, ‘kaba’ which is Turkish for rough, course, big and/or raw. This speculation may be correct in that many nomads of Fars province and southwest Persia were of Turkic origin.

Relatively few old gabbehs have survived. These were utilitarian objects used daily by people who lived significant portions of each year in cold, harsh, mountainous climates. Because they were of no commercial value, they were routinely discarded once they became worn or seriously damaged.

The gabbeh has several common features, all of which are seen in this rug. They have long pile, there are many weft lines between each row of knots, and the designs are simple, abstract and geometrical.

Condition: The ends and sides are reduced. The ends are stabilized to prevent further loss of pile. The sides have been re-wrapped. There is a small area of re-piling. Otherwise, the general condition is very good. This rug can be displayed as a wall hanging or used on a floor where the foot traffic is not heavy.