GABBEH EXHIBITION.

- Gabbeh carpets, sometimes spelt 'Gabbe' are a traditional variety of Persian carpet.

Gabbehs were originally hand knotted exclusively by tribal women on makeshift looms while the men looked after the animals and land. The nomad's life in the mountainous region of Fars required the use of such long-piled wool rugs as floor coverings to smooth the rough ground where their tents were placed. Gabbehs are still woven by nomads in the Fars region and are still used aesthetically.

These days many praise gabbehs; some go so far as to call them "a kind of art". The motifs, the overall design, the colour palette and the different compositions used in gabbehs appear to have a symbolic or mysterious significance. Investigations into the rich sources of Iranian folklore in search of an explanation for the motifs and decorative elements found in gabbehs have led to studies of fairytales, magical practices and fortune telling. Gabbehs stand out distinctively from other groups of rugs through their abstract illustrations and expressionist colours. From the point of view of design there are no limitations, anything is possible. Their designs display an unclouded vision and directness of expression as does a child, giving them an exhilarating freshness and vitality. Their patterns and shapes have an appealing innocence. Every gabbeh is as unique as the weaver was who created it with originality and sincerity.

The nomads deliberately use colour intensity in a new way, moving away from normal, everyday tones and working in stronger, more vibrant colours and shades to reinforce the power of their statements. We have reached a time when good art does not have to be synonymous with pretty, nor be judged on the intensity of the labour. In the beginning this new movement in art was met with disapproval in Europe, because abstract art was said to have no visible social message, but now it is one of the most collected floor coverings. The discovery of the gabbeh was long overdue. If the Iranian gabbeh had been appreciated sooner, many more early examples would have been preserved. Even the late discovery of the gabbeh, however, was enough for it to find its rightful place among the notable textiles of the world. With the weave coarse and pile long they have been increasingly valued as Western interiors became more and more modern and minimalist. Our Gabbeh collection is one that we are proud of. It represents the history of these rugs and we invite you to share it with us

Further readings: Gabbeh Art Underfoot, Parviz Tanavoli. ISBN 964-306-297-X Ganneh, H. Reinisch. ASIN: B0007C8P12

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