Glossary of Antique Rugs and Oriental Carpets

Gabbeh A type of tribal Persian rugs made with extra high pile and very simple, graphic designs focused on the use of color, which can be vibrant or soft and earthy. As pieces made for domestic use rather than commercial value in the marketplace, Gabbehs have a cultural authenticity that renders them highly desirable to collectors.

Ganjeh Ganjeh rugs from the south Caucasus are prized for their glorious color and large-scale graphic designs, much like the Kazak rugs from the same region. Unlike Kazaks, however, Ganjehs have allover rather than medallion patterns, often with dynamic diagonal patterns of stripes or bands filled with tiny embellishment or detail.

Ghiordes A type of rug from Northwest Turkey known especially for high quality prayer rugs of early date with exceptionally precise, fine drawing and delicate coloration. Later Ghiordes production focused as well on room-sized rugs. The later are closely related to Oushaks in design and coloration, although some retain the fine drawing and design of the early Ghiordes prayer rugs.

Ghirlandaio A type of early Turkish carpet named for the Italian Renaissance painter Domenico Ghirlandaio, in whose paintings such carpets appear. They are typified by large segmented or multifaceted medallions adapted from on Islamic Muqarnas designs.

Guard Guards or guard stripes are very narrow border-like bands, usually consisting of geometric elements,  which frame or accent a border or field.

Gul A Persian word meaning ‘flower’ used to designate the small medallions arranged in rows as allover repeat patterns in Turkoman and Persian rugs.  In Turkoman rugs, there were various types of guls that typified the weavings of different tribes or sub-groups.