Persia (modern day Iran) and Turkey were among the first countries that developed rug making centres. Persian manuscripts remain from the rule of King Chosroes I, who ruled Persia from 531-579, that describes a rug called “Spring Carpet of Chosroes”, which was hand knotted from wool, silk, gold, silver and it was trimmed with precious stones.

In Iran, the carpet and textile industries formed part of Shah cAbbas’ (r. 1587–1629) program for restructuring the economy and attracting European merchants to the country. He transferred silk merchants and weavers to the new capital of Isfahan and signed trade treaties with Spain, England, and France.

Of the scores of carpets exported abroad at this time, the "Polonaise" type (50.190.1) was the most popular; over 300 of them are in foreign collections, and many bear the coat of arms of the family that commissioned them. Vase and garden carpets were among the other common types. In each of these, vegetal motifs replace the figural ones of the previous century.

A few rugs remain from 16th -18th century Persia, which is considered the golden age for rug weaving in Persia.; These rugs remain noticed for their sheer beauty of colors and originality of their designs.

Gabbeh
The beauty of Gabbeh Oriental carpets is their departure from the classic Persian style, to one of more freedom and natural expression. Through the deliberate distortions of line and color, and the simplified use of pattern, the weaver increases the emotional impact of their art.

Gabbeh refers to a traditional style of weaving from Southwestern Iran. The nomadic people of the Lori, Bakhtiari, and the Qashqai tribes have woven Gabbeh Oriental rugs for a hundred years, and continue to keep this tribal art form alive.

The Gabbeh carpets we sell are considered by many to be the best quality modern Oriental rugs woven since the turn of the century.