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Posted on: June 8, 2021

Staff Pick – Vintage & Traditional Ghashghai Carpet

Surrounded by thousands of carpets of varying provenance, we sometimes take for granted the captivating intrigue of tribal rugs. At Orley Shabahang, we learn through experience that the more time we spend with these unique rugs, the more we fall in love with them. While tribal carpets tend to be more rustic and playful in design, they are cherished both for the stories they tell and the profound quality of their craftsmanship, characterized by lush piles and virtually indestructible foundations. This week’s “staff pick” features our vintage Ghashghai carpet from the Orley Shabahang World Market Collection. Continue reading to learn more about its construction, cultural significance, and why we love this Ghashghai and other vintage pieces alike.

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Posted on: May 18, 2021

Why is Padding So Important?

Do you ever wonder why carpet stores always suggest purchasing a pad for your carpet? No, it’s not to upsell you. It’s because the correct padding is necessary to protect your carpet from everyday wear-and-tear. Continue reading to learn more about what padding is available and which pad is perfect for you!

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Posted on: May 11, 2021

Staff Pick – Karim Khan Zand Antique Carpet

Throughout the history of civilizations, there are few emperors known for cultivating peace and prosperity rather than forging battles and tribulations. In this week’s Staff Pick, we immerse ourselves in the vintage golden pile of an exquisite hand-knotted carpet and the story of Karim Khan Zand, an 18th-century ruler whose legacy inspired its creation.

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Posted on: May 4, 2021

Inspiration Everywhere – Hunting Scene

When looking for inspiration for his modern carpet designs, owner, and lead designer Bahram Shabahang discovers the ideas for his carpet designs all around him. Dive into this week’s “Inspiration Everywhere” to learn more about our chic but playful wool and silk carpet, titled Hunting Scene, and the inspiration that led to its creation. 

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Posted on: April 27, 2021

Antique Spotlight – Persian Malayer Carpet

Of numerous villages located in the Hamadan province, the city of Malayer is amongst the most notable. As can be found throughout the rest of the Hamadan region, Malayer is known for its fine carpets, and this week’s Antique Spotlight features one of Orley Shabahang’s finest examples from the Malayer tribe. Continue reading to learn about this carpet’s symbolism and what makes it exceptionally fine.

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Posted on: April 20, 2021

Staff Pick – Rain No.2

With hundreds of one-of-a-kind creations in our inventory, this week’s blog features Rain No. 2, one of Orley Shabahang’s most versatile designs. Woven with traditional Persian techniques that were that status quo centuries ago, continue reading to discover the inspiration behind our famous Rain No. 2 designed how anyone could implement this style of the area rug into their home. 

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Posted on: April 13, 2021

Persian Carpet Cleaning Tutorial

Even though high-quality hand-knotted carpets are functional and easy to take care of, accidents do happen. What are you to do if your carpet is in crisis and needs emergency spot cleaning? Continue reading to learn a standard protocol of what you should do after your next carpet accident.

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Posted on: April 6, 2021

Antique Spotlight – Persian Semnan Carpet

Created almost one hundred years ago, this antique Semnan continues to captivate audiences to this day with its kaleidoscope-styled design. With true antique Semnan carpets becoming harder to find, continue reading this week’s Antique Spotlight to discover more about this example of one of Persian carpetmaking’s more obscure provenances.

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Posted on: March 16, 2021

A Brief History – Ghashghai Tribal Carpets

With ten active tribes total still weaving traditional hand-knotted Persian carpets, there is no surprise that their classification generally comes from the tribe or village that crafted them. Ghashghai carpets (other common spellings are Kasghi, Gaschgai, or Qashqai) are some of the most prevalent Persian carpets available for purchase, as well as some of the most desired. Find out why Ghashghai carpets are sought after and what makes them unique compared to other Persian rugs.

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Posted on: March 9, 2021

Tips for Rug Shoppers from Rug Experts

We frequently hear questions along the lines of: “How can I be sure of the quality of a hand-made carpet? Is this carpet even hand-made?” These are exactly the questions you should be asking, and we have few different things to look out for when shopping for your next carpet! Continue reading to discover how to identify great hand-made carpets.

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Posted on: January 26, 2021

A Brief History – Gabbeh Carpets

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 discover some of what makes Gabbeh carpets truly special.

Persian Loristan Gabbeh Rug – 4’9″ x 7’5″

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Posted on: January 19, 2021

Staff Pick – Donya

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 to understand why Ben chose Donya as our Staff Pick.

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Posted on: January 5, 2021

Happy New Year from Orley Shabahang

Happy New Year from all of us at Orley Shabahang! We would like to take the opportunity to wish you and yours a happy and healthy year ahead. With a new decade in our sights, we look forward to brightening up your décor with the world’s finest modern Persian carpets. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you soon.  

Posted on: December 29, 2020

A Brief History – Persian Mihrab

For generations, Persian tribes have borrowed elements from each other to create today’s authentic Persian carpets. These elements can include motifs, patterns, pile length, and knotting style. Specifically we wanted to explorethe Persian mihrab design and how to identify it in varying carpets. 

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Posted on: December 22, 2020

Inspiration Everywhere – Anatomy of a Flower

From Orley Shabahang’s Art Nouveau Collection, we bring you Anatomy of a Flower, a contemporary and modern carpet designed by our owner and lead designer, Bahram Shabahang. Finding inspiration wherever he travels, Bahram continues to design the world’s finest modern Persian carpets. Continue reading to discover the inspirational origins of this fabulous contemporary design.

When studying the pattern up-close, it is easy to see why we consider our carpets as functional art. At first, the robust design appears dramatic. When placed on the floor, however, the majestic curves of the floral patterns provide a tranquil and relaxed atmosphere. The impressive center medallion in brown, cream, camel, and blue wool detailing holds three small bulbs pointing towards the top of the carpet. Varying slightly, these center motifs allow the busy design to become relaxed and composed. Like this carpet? Check out orleyshabahang.com to see their entire Art Nouveau collection.
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Posted on: December 15, 2020

Staff Pick – Antique Khoy Carpet

With stunning clarity, this Persian Khoy carpet is hand-knotted and belongs to Orley Shabahang’s Antique Collection. With this carpet’s perfect proportions and condition, it is hard to grasp from photos that this carpet measures 13′ x 20′ and was constructed circa 1920. This carpet’s value lies in the quality of its construction, its size, and excellent condition. Continue reading to discover why this carpet is a gem inside the Orley Shabahang Antique Collection.

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Posted on: December 9, 2020

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ORLEY SHABAHANG!

The Orley Shabahang family wishes you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season. As this strange year finally comes to an end, we are taking time to reflect and give thanks to all those who supported us through 2020 and beyond. We want to express our gratitude toward these extraordinary individuals, including the weavers and dye masters whose dedication to their craft allows us to create the finest carpets in the world.

From the loom to the home, numerous people take crucial roles in the creation of our carpets. Enjoy a restful and peaceful season, and we look forward to seeing you soon! 

We thank our teams in Milwaukee and New York for all their commitment and hard work. And we thank our clients at home and abroad whose continued kindness, appreciation and patronage enable us to create the antiques of tomorrow.

Posted on: March 17, 2020

The Nowruz Carpet

As the Persian new year is upon us, this week we look at an antique Nowruz carpet. This celebratory pictorial has a unique history that reveals how Nowruz was celebrated in the royal court hundreds of years ago. Continue reading to learn more!

This Nowruz carpet shows an ovular pictorial of Shah Abbas II receiving dignitaries, scholars, and ambassadors for a Nowruz celebration that is surrounded by ornate boarders filled with Safavid-inspired arabesque tendrils in soft blues, warm golds, and earthy greens.
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Posted on: February 11, 2020

Persian Textiles from the Ilkhanid Dynasty

Persian textiles from the Ilkhanid dynasty are visual representations of a historical convergence between East and West Asia during the 13th and 14th centuries. This time of peace along the Silk Road yielded a golden epoch for decorative arts, especially in textiles that were easily portable for the era’s semi-nomadic rulers.

This colorful image represents the Ilkhanid textile patterns that include both Chinese and Persian motifs. The illustration depicts King Ghazan's conversion from Buddhism to Islam and is adorned with the Chinese dragon as well as Persian calligraphy and Arabesque patterns.
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Posted on: November 19, 2019

Staff Pick – Crescendo

This week’s staff pick is Crescendo, a standout design from Orley Shabahang’s Music collection. Not only does this carpet look beautiful, but it also demonstrates the skill of our artisan weavers. Continue reading to learn more about why we love this carpet!

From Orley Shabahang's Music collection, Crescendo forms a series of curvilinear shapes in shades of red, blue, and yellow.
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Posted on: June 11, 2018

Antique Spotlight!

This breathtaking Persian Sultanabad, 8’4″ x 10’1″, originated from the Meyghan village in the Farahan region of present day Iran. Thanks to the level of craftsmanship that went into constructing this rug in the 1870’s, it is still in excellent condition almost 150 years later.

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Posted on: May 7, 2018

ICFF 2018

ICFF is just around the corner! Orley Shabahang is thrilled to be showcasing their one-of-a-kind carpets alongside so many reputable dealers. If you are visiting the fair, come say hello to our team at booth 2821.

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Posted on: December 25, 2017

Happy Holidays!

We at Orley Shabahang want to wish all of you a happy holiday season! We hope you had a wonderful 2017 and look forward to seeing you all in 2018!

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Posted on: May 22, 2017

ICFF 2017

ICFF features what’s best and what’s next in contemporary design, luxury interiors and high end furniture. Extraordinary styles by top international furniture brands and emerging new talent highlight unique furnishings, seating, wall covering, carpeting, accessories, lighting, kitchen, bath, outdoor furniture and more. Visit us at booth 2633!

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Posted on: April 24, 2017

Village Versus City Carpets

There are a lot of beautiful similarities between antique city and village carpets. They’re both technically and visually impressive works of art that have stood the test of time, however it’s their differences that make them so interesting. Here’s a closer look at what makes each of these types of carpets so incredible.

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Posted on: April 17, 2017

The Meaning of Color

Similar to a painting, each traditional Persian carpet has a unique story to tell. The story is interpreted through the design motifs, as well as the colors that the weaver uses to paint her picture. Continue reading to learn the symbolic meaning behind the colors found in this ancient handicraft!

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Posted on: April 10, 2017

All Natural Dyes

At Orley Shabahang, we work hard to carry on the weaving traditions of Iran. Not only do we hand-spin all of our wool and weave our carpets entirely by hand, we use only all natural raw materials to dye our wool. Here’s a look into where each color is derived from!

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Posted on: March 27, 2017

Happy Nowruz!

As Orley Shabahang owes the artistry of its rugs to the traditional handicrafts of the Persian culture, we wanted to share some other Persian traditions that have endured generations. Ring in the Persian New Year by reading about the customs of this thirteen-day celebration that begins on the first day of spring!

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Posted on: March 13, 2017

DIFFA Dining By Design

DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS raises awareness and grants funds to organizations that provide treatment, direct care services, preventive education programs and advocacy for individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS. Held annually in March, DIFFA invites local and international designers to transform a raw space into a showcase of over-the-top dining environments for its annual fundraiser for HIV/AIDS—DINING BY DESIGN. We’re so excited to be collaborating this year on a table with Poltrona Frau designed by Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz also featuring LASVIT Lighting.

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Posted on: October 17, 2016

Weaving Like the Bakhtiari

The motifs found in the carpets of the pastoral nomadic Bakhtiari tribe are inspired by the sights and sounds of those who wove them. Through this prized handicraft, the Bakhtiari have made their name synonymous with designs of plants and animals that are stylized in a totally unique and beautiful way.

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Posted on: September 6, 2016

Creating Carpets Using Ancient Techniques

Orley Shabahang is excited to host the latest Hajji Baba Club event. This event will be open to the public! Join us this Saturday, September 11th, from 4pm to 6pm at the Orley Shabahang Gallery to learn about the ancient craft of Persian carpet making. Co-founder Bahram Shabahang will discuss the entire process, from the sheep to the finished product. Examples of Persian rugs both antique and our own new creations will be presented for you to see!

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Posted on: July 18, 2016

Orley Shabahang Flatweaves

Flatweave Pure Wool Handwoven Carpet Interweave

At Orley Shabahang, we are well-known for our pile carpets because the wool from our Persian Fat-Tailed Sheep gives the carpets such a softness and sheen, but Orley Shabahang also creates exceptional flatweaves. Also handwoven by artisan weavers, our flatweaves use those same high-quality raw materials and that hand spinning process provides the wool with extraordinary strength. …Read full post.

Posted on: July 11, 2016

Summer and Carpet Cleaning Tricks

Carpet Cleaning Tricks Contemporary Carpets Summer

Summer is a time for beaches, friends, and barbecues and warm sunshine coming in through your windows can make your carpets look even more amazing. With this busy time of year you may also have concerns about keeping your carpet clean, but rest assured that we have the answers so you can focus on summer relaxation.

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Posted on: June 20, 2016

Inspiration Everywhere

All art starts with inspiration, and that’s no different for our rugs. Each of our pieces is a unique work of functional art with its own inspiration and history. Some of the inspiration is a little more abstract, where as others like our mosaic rugs are a more literal homage.

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Posted on: May 16, 2016

Hand Spun Wool

In order to make the highest quality carpet, you have to start first with the best raw materials. For us, that starts with wool. Orley Shabahang uses Persian fat-tailed sheep (which you can read about here). These sheep have been bred for centuries specifically for carpet making due to the high quality of the wool that comes from these sheep. The quality of this raw wool needs to be maintained, which is why all of our wool is hand spun.

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Posted on: April 15, 2016

The Galaxy Collection

All art starts with inspiration. Our co-owner and designer Bahram Shabahang uses inspiration from life all around him to create the stunning and unique designs you see in all of our carpets. Our Galaxy collection is no different. Named after its inspiration, here’s a closer look into one of our favorite collections of carpets.

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Posted on: February 26, 2016

Orley Shabahang Sponsors Constantinople – Paths to the Summit

Orley Shabahang is proud to be a corporate sponsor for this very special concert that will occur on the Eve of the Persian New Year, Saturday, March 19th, 2016. We are please to offer you discounted tickets! Simply click here, order up to 2 tickets on Tier 3, enter SHABAHANG in the discount code box at the checkout, and click APPLY to receive a 50% discount. This code is valid through March 14th, 2016, but seating is limited so order early and enjoy the concert!

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Posted on: June 7, 2015

Reviving a Lost Art

Throughout our past 40 years of business in the United States, Orley Shabahang Persian Carpets has worked to uphold its distinguished reputation. It is known among discerning customers and collectors that Orley Shabahang has the most comprehensive selection and highest grade of artistic carpets in the country. Our distinction derives from the impassioned work of Bahram Shabahang, whose unabashed love for Persian carpets may be traced back through to the very beginning of his family. …Read full post.