What Is a Gabbeh Rug? Features, Appeal and How to Choose One

A soft, thick pile and simple designs with plenty of open space: the Gabbeh has become one of the most popular hand-knotted rugs in Japan in recent years. This guide explains what a Gabbeh is, why people love it, and how to choose one.

What is a Gabbeh?

The Gabbeh was first woven by nomadic tribes of the Fars region in south-western Iran, such as the Qashqai and the Luri, for use in their own homes. The name is often said to mean "rough" or "loosely made": rather than fine detail, these rugs value the weaver's free imagination and warmth. Today Gabbeh rugs in the same style are also woven in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

What makes a Gabbeh different

• Thick pile: the pile is longer than on most Persian rugs, so it feels soft and springy underfoot.
• Simple, free designs: plain fields, grids, stripes and small animal or plant motifs, with lots of open space.
• Every rug is unique: Gabbehs are often woven without a drawn pattern, so no two are ever the same.

Why you can use it all year round

Wool traps air, so it keeps your feet warm in winter. It also absorbs and releases moisture, so it stays pleasantly dry in summer. That is one reason a Gabbeh suits Japanese homes: you can leave it down in every season.

How to choose the right Gabbeh

By size

• Entrance (genkan) mat: around 60×90cm. Check the thickness so the door can still open freely.
• In front of a sofa / living room: from about 140×200cm up to around 3 tatami.
• Hallway or kitchen: a long, narrow runner.

By colour

Natural colours such as ivory and camel blend easily with both wooden floors and tatami. Red and terracotta add warmth to a room, while green and blue give a calmer feel. Picking up one colour from your furniture or curtains ties the room together.

Care

A new Gabbeh may shed a little at first as loose fibres work their way out; this settles after a while. Vacuum regularly on a low setting in the direction of the pile, and turn the rug now and then so it wears evenly. For a deep clean, use a specialist hand-knotted rug cleaner.

Gabbeh rugs at RUGINZA

RUGINZA offers one-of-a-kind Gabbeh rugs hand-knotted in Afghanistan: plain, checked, patchwork, ikat, and pieces with silk woven in. Take your time to find the one you love.

Browse the Gabbeh collection | Browse patchwork rugs