Afghan Animal Gabbeh Rug
This Afghan animal Gabbeh rug was hand double knotted in Afghanistan from lamb’s wool. Its soft pile and tribal design carry small animal figures across a field of stripes in red, teal, gold and purple.
The design up close
A wide rust red border frames the rug, with small square panels along the top and bottom, each holding a tiny motif in cream, blue, green and orange. The long sides carry stacked panels in turquoise, purple, cream and navy, and each panel repeats a small figure.
Inside the border, horizontal stripes run the full width in green, gold, purple, navy, red and cream. Several of the stripes carry rows of small animal figures and tree-like shapes, which give the centre its playful, storybook character. Each stripe is a different colour, so the field reads as a series of bands rather than one block of colour.
This Afghan animal Gabbeh rug suits anyone who wants pattern with simple lines, since the figures are small and spaced widely across the stripes.
Gabbeh rugs and where they come from
Gabbeh rugs come from a nomadic weaving tradition, with a thick, soft pile, open fields of colour and simple motifs. The Gabbeh belongs to the tribes of the Zagros mountains in Iran, including the Lori and Qashqai, who wove thick, simple rugs mainly for their own households.
The name is often translated as raw or natural, which suits the look: deep pile, open colour and only a few motifs. Weavers in Afghanistan now make Gabbeh rugs in the same spirit, and this rug follows that tradition.
How this Afghan animal Gabbeh rug is made
Every knot is tied by hand, and the rug is hand double knotted, which gives the wool a plush texture and lasting quality. The design is formed by the knots, so it shows on the back as well as the front. Our records note vegetable dyes, so the colours carry the soft, slightly uneven shading that natural dyes often give.
Sizing it for your room
The size of this rug can be confirmed in our showroom, where you can see how its striped field sits against your own furniture. Its stripes and border hide everyday wear, so the rug suits a family room or entrance as well as a bedroom.
The soft pile makes this Afghan animal Gabbeh rug a good choice where you want comfort underfoot, such as a bedroom or a living area. Its simple open colour also sits easily in modern, coastal and minimalist rooms.
Looking after your rug
Vacuum this Afghan animal Gabbeh rug on a suction-only setting, or with the beater bar switched off, so the brush does not pull at the knots. Turn it around every six to twelve months so sun and foot traffic wear it evenly. Blot spills with a clean white cloth and cold water rather than rubbing them in. When it needs a full clean, choose a cleaner who washes handmade rugs by hand.
Put a good underlay beneath it. It stops the rug sliding on timber or tiles, adds cushioning and takes some of the wear off the pile. Moths like wool in dark, quiet spots, such as the part of a rug under a sofa, so vacuum those areas often and lift the furniture now and then.
See it before you buy
Visit our showroom at 307 Penshurst St, North Willoughby, open every day from 11 am to 4:30 pm, to see this Afghan animal Gabbeh rug in person. If you would rather judge it in your own room, with your own light and furniture, book an in-home viewing and we will bring a selection to you.
Browse more Gabbeh Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Gabbeh rugs.
