Bibikabad Rugs

Learn More About Persian Bibikabad Rugs from the Hamadan Region in Iran

Antique rugs from Bibikabad are related to Malayer rugs in their weaving technique. The Persian Bibikabad rugs will more often than not, feature all over designs and many of those patterns tend to be either Boteh / Paisley or Herati / “Fish” designs.

The main feature distinguishing Bibikabad rugs is that they come from the village of Bibikabad in the Hamadan region of western Iran. Meaning “the village of grandmother,” Bibikabad families have been weaving fine, thick rugs for a very long time. Distinguishing features of Bibikabad rugs include bold coloring, all-over patterning, and small, scaled/hooked paisley designs. In contrast to other types of Middle Eastern rug, Bibikabads typically don’t have a lot of solid color space. Intricate designs cover the entire rug.
The ethnic group living in Bibikabad is generally Turkish, and the rugs are produced using Turkish technique. Known as Ghiordes, this includes thick, symmetrical knotting. Each knot is tied by hand. Ghiordes knot work has been used for hundreds of years, if not thousands, all throughout the northern part of the Middle East.

Interestingly, while the Bibikabad people typically use Turkish techniques, they are in the middle of Iran, the modern center of Persian culture. Thus, when you get a Bibikabad rug, you are getting a fascinating mixture of Turkish rugs and Persian rugs insofar as design and technique. This often accounts for the variety you see in rugs that share the label of Bibikabad. They typically share a tendency toward geometric or nesting floral patterns, a predilection for bold colors like red, with blue and green highlights, and a tendency toward wide borders. However, beyond that, Bibikabad rugs display a level of creativity that stems from the mix of cultures they represent.