$590
Back in the 1970s, when we were first collecting these unusually crazy rugs, we would ask, “What sort of rug is that?” The reply “een qalin Gabbeh”, “this rug is a woolly rug” seemed hilariously obvious at the time, but it has since become accepted nomenclature. A Gabbeh is simply a woolly rug because it wasn’t made for a wedding or a celebration, nor did it represent a clan or carry a ceremonial design. It was made for the weaver’s own life, woven thick for sleeping, for warmth, for living.
In stock
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hello@therugshop.com.au / 02 6687 2424
Free Shipping within Australia.
Your rug will be shipped within 1-3 business days and should arrive within 3-5 business days from the ship date. Multiple items within the same order may not arrive together.
When your order is processed, you will receive an email containing a tracking number and dispatch confirmation.
Domestic shipping we use TNT express couriers & Aus post.
International shipping we use INTERPARCEL.
Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery. Please contact us as soon as possible if you are considering a return. Buyer is responsible for return postage cost. Any returns must be unused and in original of when purchased.
No returns on our “Clearance” rugs or any rugs on sale.
The Nomadic Gabbeh Persian Rug is not just a floor covering but an echo of life itself. Woven by the Qashgai and Luri tribes of South West Persia, these rugs belong to a lineage of makers whose art was never commercial, only essential. They were woven not for export, nor for palace display, but for life in the mountains — for warmth, for sleeping, and for the human comfort of texture and colour.
At The Rug Shop, we have always held a deep affection for the Nomadic Gabbeh Persian Rug, for it is among the most honest of all Persian weavings. It is hand-spun wool, naturally dyed, and full of character — a mirror of the weaver’s life and the land that raised her sheep.
The word Gabbeh in Persian simply means “woolly,” and the story of this name says much about the rug itself. Back in the 1970s, when collectors first encountered these wild, untamed pieces, they would ask, “What sort of rug is that?” The reply — “een qalin Gabbeh,” meaning “this rug is a woolly rug” — seemed hilariously simple, yet it captured the essence of what Gabbeh truly is. A rug unpretentious and pure, thick with wool and purpose.
The Nomadic Gabbeh Persian Rug was not made for weddings, nor for trade, nor as an emblem of clan identity. It was woven for the weaver herself, for her family, and her tent. It was art made without an audience, expression woven for its own sake. In that simplicity lies its magic.
Each Nomadic Gabbeh Persian Rug is a free work of art, drawn not from a map but from memory. The weavers of the Zagros Mountains carry their designs within, learned from mothers and grandmothers who wove before them. The patterns — whether geometric, abstract, or playful — are spontaneous reflections of life: a tree glimpsed at sunrise, a grazing sheep, a spirit of colour imagined in stillness.
Unlike the court carpets of Isfahan or Kashan, which follow strict geometries, the Gabbeh is a personal conversation between weaver and wool. Its rhythm is that of the human hand. Every knot, every uneven line, every shift in hue is an act of presence.
The material is pure, hand-spun sheep wool from the high pastures of South West Persia. The wool is thick and oily with lanolin, making it naturally stain-resistant and long-lasting. The pile is deep, full, and soft to the touch — the very quality that once made Gabbeh rugs the preferred bedding of nomadic families.
The dyes are drawn from nature: madder root for red, walnut shell for brown, pomegranate for gold, and indigo leaf for blue. Together they create the earthy palette of Persia — a landscape rendered in fibre. The colours age beautifully, growing more harmonious with time, the tones mellowing like sunlit clay.
This particular Nomadic Gabbeh Persian Rug dates to around 1970, and its colours have now reached that perfect maturity — calm yet alive, deep yet glowing.
What distinguishes a Nomadic Gabbeh Persian Rug is its emotional honesty. It is not polished or pretentious. It breathes. The irregularities in pattern and weave are not flaws but evidence of human making, of time and touch. The weaver’s hand moves as life does — sometimes steady, sometimes wandering, always sincere.
These rugs have become a beloved symbol of authenticity in a world crowded with imitation. They remind us that beauty does not require perfection, only truth.
Though woven for daily use, the Nomadic Gabbeh Persian Rug is remarkably durable. The wool’s natural oils protect it from wear, and the loose but strong knotting allows it to flex rather than break. Many Gabbeh rugs from the mid-20th century, such as this one, remain in great condition today, a testament to the resilience of both the weaver and her materials.
Each one is entirely handmade, without mechanical intervention. The loom is often nothing more than two wooden stakes fixed into the ground. Yet from that simplicity emerges a textile of extraordinary depth and power.
At The Rug Shop, we continue to source Nomadic Gabbeh Persian Rugs directly from the families and villages that still uphold this tradition. Though times have changed, the essence remains. The wool is still hand-spun, the dyes still made from the earth, and the designs still come from the imagination of the weaver. Each rug is a continuation of an ancient conversation — between people, place, and the passage of time.
Can I get the same rug in a different size?
Each of our rugs is an individual, hand made work of art because of that it is not possible for us to have duplicates in different sizes.
How are your rugs made?
All of our rugs are 100% Handmade on a loom. We have created a close relationship with all of the craftspeople who make our rugs which allows us to get the highest quality rugs directly from the people who made them.
Are your rugs new/used?
We offer a variety of both new and used Persian rugs from many areas including Persia, Turkey, and Morocco see below for more info on locations.
NEW: We support over 30 families in Afghanistan who produce the highest quality Persian rugs.
OLD ANTIQUE VINTAGE: We source our used rugs from village and tribal families at source. As well as attend worldwide auctions. We have formed relationships with Persian rug collectors that allow us to get incredible pieces that are not normally on the market.
Can I try before i buy?
We have a “try before you buy” system for approved customers.
Where are your rugs from?
Afghanistan, Persia, Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Morocco etc.
