South-Persian Gabbeh South-Persian GabbehClick on image to view in larger size.
Probably south-West Persia (Fars province), could be made by Qashqa'i o Luri tribes, settled or nomadic. The age might be around 1920.
A simple and effective design: on a cream/camel-coloured abrashed field we find a row of four hexagonal latch-hook framed medallions containing a stepped hexagonal form in tan brown. There are charming irregularities in the drawing, all hexagons being slighly different in size and shape. Effective geometric border system with straight and zig-zag lines and reciprocal diamonds / checkerboard design.
Limited palette using only five colours derived from different shades od sheeps' wool (all undyed, maybe with the exception of the ochre tone used in the zig-zag border).
The rug measures 175 x 105 cm (5ft.9in. x 3ft.6in.). Warps are probably goat hair varying in colour between black, brown and white, wefts are undyed brown wool. There is no warp depression, and just 2-3 wefts after each row of knots, so it is not a very pronounced gabbeh weave. The weave is still coarse, the knot count is v.29/dm, h.19/dm = 551 knots per sqare dm /roughly 35 kpsi.
Glossy wool, excellent condition, everywhere the same good high pile. The selvedges and ends are complete and original.
