$1,800
A powerfully symbolic rug, originally placed in a Khan’s tent signifying bravery and purity, protector of the tribe. Fars Province until quite recently was home to the big cats.
These weavers may have never seen a lion or a other big cat. Their creativity comes from the story-telling. Artistic free weaving, straight from the mind.
In stock
If you would like to see a particular product in person through our Bangalow store, please contact us in advance so we can be of the best assistance.
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.
At The Rug Shop, we are honoured to present a piece that carries within its fibres the strength of myth and the warmth of tribal hands: the Persian Lion Gabbeh Rug. Handwoven by Qashgai nomads in Southern Persia, this rug is not merely a furnishing—it is a declaration. A lion in wool, bold and unafraid, resting on a field of dreams spun from memory and dyed with the earth itself.
The Persian Lion Gabbeh Rug stands apart for its raw honesty. While many Gabbeh rugs favour abstraction and whimsy, the lion rugs of Persia are singular. The lion—proud, protective, and regal—has long been a symbol of power, justice, and divine order in Persian art. In the context of the Gabbeh tradition, it also represents guardianship over the home, a creature of spirit watching over the family hearth.
This is folk art at its finest. Each Persian Lion Gabbeh Rug is a one-of-a-kind creation, woven not in cities, but on mountain slopes and in goat-hair tents. The weavers—often women—draw the lion from their imagination, giving it human eyes, sun-ray manes, or patterned fur. Sometimes it smiles, sometimes it roars, but always it feels alive.
Made from hand-spun sheep wool, the Persian Lion Gabbeh Rug is thick, resilient, and deeply comforting underfoot. Its dyes are drawn from nature—pomegranate skins, madder root, walnut husk—yielding hues that pulse with a quiet vitality. This is not a chemically treated, mass-produced piece; it is a rug with breath, scent, and story. The pile is full, the wool high in lanolin, and the design sits proudly like a heraldic banner.
The lion is often framed by a border that speaks of tribe, memory, and direction. Geometric forms, ancestral motifs, and symbolic glyphs decorate the periphery, grounding the lion in its world—a world that has existed for millennia in the hills of Fars and Lorestan. When you bring a Persian Lion Gabbeh Rug into your space, you are not simply choosing a visual accent. You are welcoming in a deep and ancient presence.
What makes this particular piece rare is its size, condition, and emotional clarity. Not all lion Gabbehs survive intact, as many were used as sleeping rugs and worn down over years of family life. Yet this Persian Lion Gabbeh Rug remains vibrant and strong, its pattern crisp, its colours rich, its soul intact.
Though lion Gabbehs have gained recognition in recent years among collectors and textile scholars, they remain deeply rooted in the domestic and devotional life of Persia’s nomadic peoples. The lion is not just an image; it is an embodiment. It is the spirit of the protector, the echo of an old king, the laughter of a child who once rested upon it, watching smoke rise from the fire.
At The Rug Shop, we do not see this as a mere object for sale. We see it as a bridge—between worlds, between generations, between the wild and the woven. We source each Persian Lion Gabbeh Rug directly from tribal families and trusted partners across Persia, ensuring authenticity, ethical trade, and the survival of traditional weaving.
We are proud to offer a curated selection of these rare and joyful pieces. Each rug is documented, carefully photographed, and described so that you may choose the lion that speaks to you. Some are fierce, others playful, but all carry the unmistakable signature of human imagination meeting wool, colour, and tradition.
Whether laid in a child’s bedroom, a study, or at the centre of a living space, a Persian Lion Gabbeh Rug brings with it a note of strength and whimsy. It tells the story of a people who live close to the land, who weave with memory, and who see animals as allies and emblems.
This is a rug that will last. And not just in fibres and dyes, but in presence.
Let the Persian Lion Gabbeh Rug bring its noble guardian spirit into your home. Discover our full range online at The Rug Shop.
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.
