Blog

Inspiration Everywhere – Magnolia

August 31, 2021

Capturing the gaze of its viewer, this design, titled Magnolia, is one of Orley Shabahang’s premiere examples of their Arts and Crafts carpet collection. Continue reading to discover Magnolia’s inspiration and what makes this...

Inspiration Everywhere – Bakhshayesh Sunset

August 24, 2021

Working with antique carpets, one cannot help but admire the complex designs abounding in tribal rugs. At Orley Shabahang, we adore these antique and vintage pieces for their vibrant tones...

Our example Bakhtiari is unique and was created by the master weaver, Ardal. Renowned across Persia for his line of Bakhtiari carpets, Ardal pieces are sought after for their extraordinary craftsmanship and their limited production (1870-1900). In much the same way that Orley Shabahang creates carpets by hand to this day, Ardal utilized the finest raw materials and weavers to create Char Mahal’s most exemplary Bakhtiari pieces. Like other traditional Bakhtiaris, the example carpet has a panel-style pattern and incorporates the classic Bakhtiari motifs of weeping willows, butterflies, caterpillars, and a large assortment of flowers. However, this Ardal carpet differs from other Bakhtiari by its uncommon combination of wool tones and the weave. Notice that the Ardal design is more refined, and the field and border motifs have a great deal more clarity. Additionally, this border uses large open-faced flowers that are interconnected throughout the carpet by vines and bouquets.

Antique Spotlight – Ardal Bakhtiari Gallery Carpet

February 23, 2021

This week’s blog is an Antique Spotlight on our fabulous Antique Ardal Bakhtiari gallery carpet. Located just outside of Isfahan, Char Mahal is the birthplace of the Bakhtiari carpet. Read...

Staff Pick – Distinctive Persian Lion Carpets

February 16, 2021

Bold, stoic, and captivating, Persian lion carpets also hold additional symbolism, unlike other animal carpets. This week’s Staff Pick explores one of our favorites in our collection from this genre....

5 Reasons why Persian Carpets are Perfect for Winter

February 9, 2021

With winter in full swing, Persian carpet connoisseurs continue to kick their feet up comfortably on their curated carpet collections. Aside from their looks, discover the top 5 reasons why...

In the Press: Jeremiah Brent Manhattan Apartment in Architectural Digest

February 2, 2021

Featured in an exclusive on the Architectural Digest website, Orley Shabahang carpets featured in this luxury project by the premier design firm, Jeremiah Brent Design. (more…)

This circa 1910 Persian Loristan Gabbeh rug consists of a handspun wool warp, weft and hand knotted pile. The rich colors of the oranges and reds from the vegetable-dyed wool in the border catch the eye, but the field is the real star of this piece. The unique salt and pepper central field of this piece that utilizes mostly undyed wool gives this piece a contemporary feel despite its antique provenance. This rug measures 4'9" x 7'5" and is in excellent vintage condition.

A Brief History – Gabbeh Carpets

January 26, 2021

Gabbeh carpets can be identified by their durable and plush pile, and their distinctive, fanciful designs. But Gabbeh carpets are more versatile and functional than people realize. Continue reading to...

This carpet is nearly square, measuring 8’1” x 8’4,” and crafted in Orley Shabahang's own Cheshmeh weave. Like all Orley Shabahang carpets, Donya is hand-knotted using all-natural, hand-spun wool. Using traditional Persian weaving techniques, the yarn is dyed, washed, dried, faded, and then woven into the carpet. With only 3 different shades of wool, three master weavers took a total of 8 months to weave Donya. Each thread within the pile is knotted by hand onto the carpet’s cotton warp. The weaver follows the designs' parameters, and when the row is finished, the master weaver then carefully layers and pounds in the carpet’s cotton weft. The knotting and layering of the weft allows Persian carpets to hold themselves together without the use of toxic adhesives or latex, which is not only safer for you, but also the weaver.

Staff Pick – Donya

January 19, 2021

This week’s staff pick, Donya, comes from our Mosaic collection. Carefully balanced, this design contains multitudes in its intricate design and the infiniteness of the circles contained within. Continue reading...

Our antique runner is a perfect example that showcases the similarities and craftmanship in Hamadan carpets. This hand-knotted Hamadan carpet measures 3’3” x 6’5,” and is hand-knotted in warm shades of pink, indigo blue, orange, forest green, and cream wool. Inspired by a traditional Persian flower garden, the design showcases Herati medallion with additional geometric paisley, birds, butterflies, branches, and vine motifs that adorn the field and border. Three details regarding this carpet are especially noteworthy. First, it incorporates multiple traditional Persian textile elements. These include the floral medallion, tree of life design, and circle of life theme among its flora, bird, and butterfly motifs. Second, the pattern is more geometric than most Hamadan designs, which typically depict more curvilinear motifs. Lastly, what truly makes this carpet so unique is the presence of small crucifixes hidden throughout the field. These motifs signify the location where it was created, Armenia. And the crucifix motifs imply that the weaver was Christan, which gives this carpet a touch of added character. Aside from being over 100 years old and in excellent condition, the addition of these small marks makes this carpet exceptionally rare and unique.

Vintage Spotlight – Antique Hamadan Persian Carpet

January 12, 2021

This week's vintage spotlight blog comes from our 1stDibs catalog, our 3’ x 6’ Antique Persian Hamadan carpet. Woven over 100 years ago, this carpet is still in like-new condition...