Gabbeh Art in Art

Qashqai Sub Tribe and Kilims Carpets - The Background

Qashqai or Kashgay Nomadic, semi-nomadic and settled tribesmen of Turkic origin who live primarily in the Fars province of south-west Iran. Their exact origins are obscure – some historian trace their ancestry to the Mongol – Turkic army of Genghis Khan that overran Persia during the 13 century; other argue that they were part of the Seljuk Turkic invasion in the 11th century. There are also suggestions that they arrived much earlier, possible as part of Hephthalite (White Hun) incursion during the 5th or 6th century. What we do know is that after Genghis Khan‘s death, the conquered territories were divided between his children and grand children, who founded Mongol-Turkic khanates. Some of the occupying armies stayed on and were later joined by other Mongol-Turkic migrants who brought with them their weaving traditions and skills. 

The Qashqaie themselves claim to have originated in Qashqaria (East Turkistan), although their name may also have derived from a famous tribal leader, Jani Agha Qashqaie, who exercised authority over the tribes of the Fars province during the Safavid era. Regardless of their origins, the Qashqaie have long been among the finest and most prolific of all tribal weaving groups.

Qashqaie kilims are produced in a wide variety of medallion, repeating, all-over, panelled and banded designs- usually with an array of tinny geometric, floral, animal, birds and human forms scattered, apparently at random, across the field and within the main elements of the design. These compositions are usually geometric in essence, but the vibrancy of the Qashqaie palette (with its full range of primary and ochre shades), coupled with the folk-art quality of many of the infill motifs, give many Qashqaie kilims an almost naturalistic feel.

Qashqaie nomads usually use slit weave in kilims which produces reversible kilims and enables relatively complex (mainly diagonal, vertical and crenelated) designs to be woven while simultaneously securing the kilim across its width. This technique requires the weaver to locate a common warp strand –at the junction between two adjacent segments of the design – and then interweave an appropriately coloured weft strand through the intervening warp strands, then wrap it around the common wrap strand, and then interweave it back, through the same intervening wraps, to its original starting-point. The weaver continues, moving diagonally up the length of the kilim, using successive rows of the same coloured wefts until an entire block of colour (which corresponds to a particular segment of the design) has been produced.

 

The whole process is then repeated for the adjacent design segment, using different- coloured wefts which are in turn wrapped around the same common wrap stands. Eventually, all the various coloured segments of the design will be interlocked across common wraps and, although there are often some unsecured vertical sections (resulting in the small slits from which the technique gets its name), a sufficient number of common warps are shared to stop the kilim from pulling apart across its width. Slit weaving is ideal for producing diagonal, geometric patterns.

We host a handful of these beautiful carpets which can be visit in our store and online at: Qashqai Collection

Rug and Carpet stains? We can help

 

Cleanliness is perhaps the most important factor concerning the long-term preservation of any rug. As shall be seen further on in this page. Dirt (if lodged and ground into the rugs foundation) can cause untold damage. Cleaning the rug makes it looks good and also prolongs its life.

The following information should help you with most spills & stains. For additional help, please see our cleaning page or contact us.

What to do

Spill & Stain quick clean-up:

  1. Work quickly 
  2. Carefully scoop-up solids with a spoon 
  3. Dilute with water if necessary 
  4. Blot – do not rub - excess water & spill material with paper towels or clean cloth 
  5. Always work from the edge towards the center of the spill 
  6. Apply antidote(s) if necessary using our Stain Removal Index on this page 
  7. Brush lightly with clothes brush if needed 
  8. Repeat again starting at step #2 if necessary 
  9. You may need to dry with a fan or hair-blower on low setting 
  10. Finish by restoring pile with a clothes brush 

Most Common causes:
  • Glue - Saturate the spot with a cloth soaked in vinegar or alcohol 
  • Wax – Put a blotter or brown paper bag over the spot. Put a hot iron over the blotter and let the wax absorb into the blotter. Keep the iron moving to avoid burns. 
  • Ink – Saturate with hairspray and allow to dry, then brush lightly with a solution of water & vinegar. 
  • Chewing Gum – Press on the gum with ice cubes until it becomes brittle enough to break off, then use spot remover if necessary to remove traces. 


What not to do?
As a further plea for rug preservation.The following unacceptable way of the cleaning hand made rug are mentioned.

*- Washing machine:
The detergent , Water  temperature , Vibration can leave a rug with cement-like wool, no luster , color run and the entire rug may even end up in shreds.

*- Dry cleaning:
Dry cleaners advertise their expertise as a rug cleaners. But this is limited to the handling machine made rugs and NOT TOO HAND-KNOTTED MASTERPIECES.Dry cleaners ruin the wool and damage the warp and weft. Such damage is irreparable not even a rug weaver or restore can rectify this.

*- Water soaking:
This is not advisable, it can causes color run in addition a warp and the weft threads are soaked.

*- powered rotary -brush cleaner:
They were invented specially to clean machine-made carpeting and the NOT FINE HAND-MADE RUGS. The heavy circular brushes have coarse bristles which when powered in a circular mention will twist and break the fibers of the pile and oriental rugs.

 

For additional help, please see our cleaning page or contact us to see how we can help.

Shiraz Carpets - The Background

Region of Fars carpets from this vast region are also called Shiraz carpets, after the name of the market where they were gathered for sale. In reality they were made by two large nomadic populations, the Ghashghaie and Khamesh, but since the characteristics of the carpets made by the two groups are so similar that one cannot be distinguished from the other with any certainty (in particular with 19th century examples), they are usually referred to more generally by the by the name of the region. Almost always made with the asymmetrical knots, these carpets usually have central medallion layout with rhomboidal medallion, or a superimposed – medallions layout with several rhomboidal medallions. The field is most often covered by small geometric elements (various polygons, eight-pointed stars), plant motifs (Rosettes, Vines), or highly stylized animals such as the “hens” called “morghi”, which also appear in the Afshar nomadic carpets. The influence of Safavid art shows up in more articulated medallions and the introduction of several more composite decorative motive motifs, such as arabesques and floral vines, always translated in the geometric style. Characteristic and frequently encountered is the use of narrow borders. Superficial distinctions can be made between the carpets made by the region’s two nomadic groups. In general, Ghashghaie carpets display a greater tendency toward the curvilinear and more obvious preference for dark colours compared to the brighter colours and more linear style of the Khamesh carpets. Characteristic of both groups is the frequent appearance, in some what ingenuous and stylized forms, of the lion, an animal that once inhabited the area and that represents the symbolic attributes of strength and domination.

 

We host a handful of these beautiful carpets which can be visit in our store and online at: Shiraz Gabbeh Collection

 

Tailored carpet to meet you needs

If you are looking for unique custom-made carpets or rugs, then we can help you!

We specialise in the design and supply of luxury handmade carpets and rugs. Whether for a private residential interior, large commercial project, or yacht can supply fitted carpets or loose laid rugs in any size, any shape and any colour. All our custom handmade carpets are produced to exact room sizes and shapes, in one piece, avoiding unsightly joins.

Whether it is the simple opulence of a bespoke luxury silk carpet in a plain custom dyed colour or an intricate border design following the contours of an elaborate staircase, every project is designed to suit the specific requirements of each individual interior, offering a truly bespoke product. Each design can be supplied as a hand tufted or hand knotted carpet or rug, and supplied in the highest quality yarns available: pure wool, worsted wool, bamboo, silk or special blends of these materials.

To complement our handmade carpets we also offer luxurious plain custom machine made carpets in wool and silk qualities that can be dyed to any colour and supplied to fit any room shape without seams.

We have an eclectic portfolio of designs with a selection of both modern and traditional designs available in any size, shape or colours. We are happy to work with you to create original designs to suit your individual requirements. The possibilities are limitless due to the sheer diversity of material, colours and shapes available.

Our expert designers and installation team ensure a perfect finish from planning and design through to the final installation resulting in the ultimate in design, elegance and quality delivered alongside a unique and personal experience. Our comprehensive service makes us a competitive and reliable company to work with.

 

Get in touch today, to see what our team can do for you.

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Welcome to Gabbeh Art in Art

We offer a vast selection of handwoven rugs, carpets and tapestries ranging from Oriental, antique, contemporary, Gabbeh, Persian rugs and Kilims. We also offer a variety of services from cleaning,repair, moth control to price valuation.
Find us at:
80 Richmond Rd, Town Centre, Kingston upon Thames KT2 5EL
02085463131 - 07943484950
info@gabbehrug.co.uk

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Qashqai Sub Tribe and Kilims Carpets - The Background

Qashqai or Kashgay Nomadic, semi-nomadic and settled tribesmen of Turkic origin who live primarily in the Fars province of south-west Iran. Their exact origins are obscure – some historian trace...

Rug and Carpet stains? We can help

  Cleanliness is perhaps the most important factor concerning the long-term preservation of any rug. As shall be seen further on in this page. Dirt (if lodged and ground into...

Shiraz Carpets - The Background

Region of Fars carpets from this vast region are also called Shiraz carpets, after the name of the market where they were gathered for sale. In reality they were made...

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