Dating back to the early 20th century, this piece is a classic example of a tribal gabbeh rug woven with tremendous freedom of expression. Most of the rug appears to be undyed, high quality wool, with minimal use of dyes to highlight the scorpions within the multiple diamonds. A highly abstracted single border surrounds the field, showing a scrolling vine or running dog icons. The rug has a floppy, thick, blanket-like handle.
Tribal carpets are typically made by nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes from various parts of the world. Their designs are different from modern, commercial carpets, in that they are mostly raw, abstract and somewhat naïve. Typically, women weave the carpets without a set design in mind during the weaving process, which results in the variations in the patterns, and the irregular shapes of the carpets. These “perfect imperfections” are the delicate nuances, that add to the beauty of each one-of-a-kind handwoven carpet. Every tribal carpet has a unique story that comes from weaver’s thoughts and expressions. Elements like flowers, plants, human beings, birds, and animals such as dogs, sheep and camels often feature, giving a base to the storyline.