Gabbeh, Golpaigon, Goravan

Oriental rugs are often known by the regions they were woven in. Collectors of Persian rugs often research each region thoroughly to understand not only the rug weaving techniques but also the designs and traditions employed in each region. These traditions often date back hundreds of years and are woven into the culture of each region. This richness impresses even more beauty on the Persian rugs that are available for sale around the world. Learn below about the different regions and click on the photos above to see samples of the different patterns.

Iranian (Persian) rug making region(s) included on this page:

Gabbeh

Gabbeh refers to a type of weave with simple designs and a long pile. They may be woven by different tribes in the Fars region (Quashghai, Mamasani, and Khamseh). These rugs have simple designs (all from memory) which give them a certain charm. Some are made of undyed wool in natural colors like gray, black, white, and brown. Rugs from this area may be woven using a Turkish or Persian knot.

Golpaigon

Golpaigon is a city in Esfahan province. Some of the designs used are similar to Saruq patterns.

Goravan

Goravan is a small town near Heris in the Azarbaijan province. The weaves are typically coarser than Heris weaving but, at times, are sold as Herises. Rugs from this area have geometric designs. Goravan, Bakhshayesh, Heris, Serapi, and Mehraban (Mehravan) have the same type of weave. Two identical pieces of weft strings are used each row. One row runs both strings on top of each other as one straight weft. The next row uses one string as the straight weft and the second string as the alternate sinuous “second” weft and so on throughout the rug.

If you are curious to learn more, my eBook The Art of Oriental Rugs - A Weaver's Perspective shows you: 1) how to identify a weave** and how different techniques produce “recognizable” variations in different regions, 2) maps with geographical views of where rugs are woven in the country of Iran and how the regional weaves influence each other, and 3) 750+ close-up pictures of weaves from 170+ rug-weaving regions in Iran and around the globe. I’ve written a book I wish I had when I first started in the rug business. This, I humbly hope, will be seen as an indispensable addition to any library.