The Specifications of Persian Kilim and Gabbeh
Persian kilim and gabbeh is a kind of mat that is woven out of goat hair or sheep wool. The softer the fibers, the more qualified the product. For example, Merino wool is so soft and keeps warmth inside. So, the kilims woven out of this wool is high in quality.
Nomads, the Main Weavers of Persian Kilim and Gabbeh
We can claim that Persian kilim and gabbeh, the traditional handicrafts of this land, are only found in the Orient. More to the point, nomads play an important role in progressing this textile. Based on two essential factors, simplicity and self-sufficiency; they produced the textiles such as kilim and gabbeh as a symbol of simplicity.
Iran is of the oldest exporters of hand-woven kilim and gabbeh, most of which are woven by artistic nomads. Their occupation in animal husbandry gives them the opportunity to produce threads by spinning the hair and wool of animals.
The Differences Between Persian Kilim and Gabbeh
At the first glance, there is no obvious difference between Persian kilim and gabbeh. But you can find some distinctions by taking more details into consideration. For example, kilim is usually bigger in size and includes much more pile and color variation compared to gabbeh. In addition, gabbeh is woven subjectively without any design. But the most important difference is their weaving techniques that we discuss in the following:
How to Weave Kilim
Kilim and gabbeh are woven on loom, in a way that weft threads are crossed across the warp. Both sides of kilim and gabbeh are the same, and no sign of the plain warp threads are visible. Warp is usually made of cotton or wool yarn and weft is made of wool yarn.
To weave a kilim, you need some tools including comb, hook knife or scissors and a device called koji. Koji is a circular and almost wide wooden device that is used to align the kilim and separate threads from each other.
How to Wave Gabbeh
Gabbeh, like kilims, is produced by intertwining fibers. But the difference is that gabbeh is woven on a horizontal loom; has higher density, higher piles, and more softness.
The Color and Motif Applied in Persian Kilim and Gabbeh
As mentioned, most of the motifs applied in Persian kilim and gabbeh are woven subjectively. The weavers of this handicraft, always try to convey deep concepts with simple symbols. So, the patterns of no gabbehs and kilims are similar to each other, and reflect prominent differences in their details.
The patterns of kilim and gabbeh; including geometrical, animal and plant figures; are inspired by traditional symbols of nomads. Of the other practical patterns, we can mention Kheshti pattern that is common among Qashghai and Bakhtiari Nomads. It is mentionable that cypress is the symbol of happiness and willow is the symbol of grief.
A characteristic that differentiates kilim from gabbeh is their color. The range of colors utilized in kilim is wider, while gabbeh features more simple colors with less variation. It is noteworthy that kilim usually features more complicated patterns compared to gabbeh, and the variant colors used in kilim is on account of its design type.
Each of the colors used in kilim and gabbeh has a special meaning in the culture of nomads. For example, blue stands for sky, black is the symbol of death and green is the symbol of verdancy, and above all, yellow is the symbol of patriotism. That is why yellow is widely used in many gabbeh and kilims.
The Usage of Persian Kilim and Gabbeh
Today, kilim and gabbeh have more variant usages. Gabbeh, featuring deep piles, can be used as a carpet tableau. But kilim that is a thin mat, is applied as the cover of furniture, cushion or table cloth.
How to Decorate House with Persian Kilim and Gabbeh
It is interesting to know that the motifs of Persian kilim and gabbeh match modern decorations. In the other word, the kilims and gabbehs having less complicated patterns and color variation totally fit modern-decorated houses. In addition, the soft texture of Gabbeh is appropriate for the houses covered with wooden or stone floorings.
In general, kilim and gabbeh can be a complementary to carpet designs. They are placed in small spaces so easily and give a magnificent beauty to the house’s ambience.
