Gabbe Woolen Carpets

The word Gabbeh means hoarse or rough in Persian. Gabbe or Gabbeh Carpets are woolen hand knotted carpets known for their tribal origin and patterns. Traditionally handspun wool of sheep or goat is used and the patterns are strongly influenced by the life and style of herdsmen and nomadic tribes. A Gabbeh rug is woven using natural dyes, handspun wool with a tough construction.

Patterns
It is a traditional Persian Nomadic style of carpet weaving that suits the contemporary requirements of bold art. It combines bold colors and shapes in unique ways. The design is uncluttered with human and animal, large fields, bold stripes or geometric shapes or a combination of them. The simplicity and beauty of color has grabbed the attention of many a designers.

Technique
Gabbeh was a peripheral activity of the women in the tribes. The men used to wash the sheep during the autumn and after cutting the wool delivered it to the women folk. Here on started the work of the women. They hand spun the fiber and dyed the yarn and then wove it into carpets on iron or wooden looms.

Earlier the looms had to be dismantled when the tribe moved on causing certain flaws in the weaving. These flaws also gave a uniqueness of texture. Since now they have settled down that textured nature is deliberately incorporated.

• The wool should be soft, shining and flexible.
• Dyes for piles and wefts are usually natural dyes
• The looms used by weavers are either horizontal or vertical and of wood or iron.
• For beating piles, a device is used which is called daftin, which has many teeth.

Regions
Though traditionally followed by Persian Tribes, in India gabbe carpets are made in Bhadohi-Mizapur region in Uttar Pradesh.