A "scenery rug" gabbeh woven in southern Iran. © Sharon Lundahl

Iran is the greatest rug-making country in the world, and the art of designing and weaving rugs dates back to ancient Persia.  Today, Iran is the largest handmade rug producer, and 80 percent of their carpets goes to the international market.

Gabbeh Carpets

We are particulary proud to have on display a collection of high quality Gabbeh rugs, including those from the award-winning Zollanvari.  Zollanvari and other rug producers  have given the best wool and vegetable dyes to tribal women weavers in southern Iran, allowing them to continue creating their wonderful folk-like designs and colors, while someone else handles the exports.

US Sanctions Against Iran:

Indigo-dyed wool being dried in view of mountains in Iran © Abas Rahimi

We are very unhappy about the sanctions of the U.S. against the import of carpets from Iran.  We believe that this will hurt the 1.2 million rug weavers in Iran–rather that the dangerous military and extremist factions in Iran.  This is important to us because the Iranians can be called the greatest rug weavers in the world.

We are now trying to manufacture similar designs in other parts of the world.

Gabbeh Rugs in our Shop. © Sharon Lundahl

Additional Information:

To learn more about Iran visit our Carpet Country profile page about Iran.