Abadeh rugs: Qashqai designs in a settled town

Location

Abadeh is a town in Fars province, on the road between Isfahan and Shiraz.

The classic design

Many Abadeh rugs show a central diamond medallion with small motifs, sometimes with a vase or tree of life, on a red or ivory field.

Construction

They usually use cotton warps, symmetric knots and medium pile. They are often more regular than nomadic Qashqai rugs.

Abadeh versus Qashqai

Nomadic Qashqai rugs usually have wool warps and more varied drawing. Abadeh rugs keep similar motifs but are more uniform.

Buying checklist

• Ask the seller what the regional name is based on: town, village group or design only
• Turn the rug over and look at knot type, warp colour and weft count
• Check ends, sides and pile height for wear or re-weaving
• Ask whether dyes have run or been chemically washed
• Get any claim about age, region or handmade origin in writing

Care

Cotton warps are stable, so Abadeh rugs lie flat. Standard underlay and annual rotation are enough.

A note on this guide

This is general information from the CraftPersia editorial team and has not been reviewed by a specialist. Regional names in the rug trade are market labels, and design alone is weak evidence of origin. This guide is not a valuation or authentication.