Persian rugs and carpets are an essential part of Persian Culture, starting from beng articles of need, as floor coverings to protect from cold, to symbols of wealth and beauty, made for kings and noblemen. Rug and Carpet weaving is one of the most ancient traditions of Persian culture and art, and dates back to the Bronze Age (c. 3500-2000 BC). Though carpets are referenced by early Greek and Arab writers, when the first Persian rug was woven is unknown. The earliest known Persian carpet called the Pazyryk rug was discovered by Russian Archaeologist Sergei Rudenko in 1949 during excavations in Siberia. The Carpet had been preserved by chance, after it survived the grave robbers raid of the burial mound. Water poured into the mound through the opening they had created, and froze, thus protecting the carpet from decay. The rug dates to the fifth century BC. Gabbeh rugs are decorated with small geometric caricature-like animals, birds and human figures which are sparsely placed on the field. The pile on these rugs is clipped very high. A famous gabbeh design is called the Lion Gabbeh, which consists of one or two large Lions or few smaller ones laid out horizontally. Sometimes the lion(s) is/are woven on a plain background and other times the field is crowded with floral or other animal motifs. Gabbeh rugs are made by the Qashghai tribeswomen of the Fars province in southwestern Iran. The Qashghai are a tribal federation of different ethnic backgrounds comprising of Arabs, Kurds, Lurs, and Turks who sell their rugs through Shiraz, the capital city of the province. Qashghai rugs are among the most beautiful and popular nomadic rugs made today. Similar to other nomads, Qashghais mainly weave rugs for their daily use or as dowry. They weave their rugs on horizontal looms with wool foundation. However, Qashghis who have settled in villages and towns make rugs on cotton foundations. For a complete look at the hundreds of area rugs in our full inventory of over 20,000, please visit eRug.com.
Persian styles are the most diverse styles worldwide. Although carpet production has mostly become mechanized today, the coveted traditional hand woven rugs are still found around the world. Here at eRug.com, we sell these handmade rugs.
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