Vintage Gabbeh Floral Urn & Mosaic Extra-Long Runner by Rug & Kilim, Afghanistan, 1950-1959

Details

Description

Hand-knotted in wool and originating circa 1950-1959 from Afghanistan, this 2x12 vintage Gabbeh extra-long runner joins Rug & Kilim’s Vintage … Read more Hand-knotted in wool and originating circa 1950-1959 from Afghanistan, this 2x12 vintage Gabbeh extra-long runner joins Rug & Kilim’s Vintage collection. The extra-long gallery piece alternates vibrant crimson panels of garden urns with jewel-toned mosaic checkerboard grids.

On the Design:

Among the most captivating expressions of regional folk art, the vase or urn motif represents a cherished symbol of life, continuous abundance, and domestic hospitality across ancient weaving traditions. Derived from the Persian word for raw, unpolished beauty, Gabbeh textiles are celebrated for their spontaneous narrative spirit, trading formal city workshop symmetry for uninhibited personal expression. This extraordinary extra-long gallery carpet merges that storied pictorial tradition with an architecturally rigorous grid structure, alternating expressive floral sanctuaries with playful geometric mosaic blocks. Rather than running a single repetitive border down the field, the weaver constructed the long canvas as a series of distinct visual chapters, creating an engaging rhythmic tempo that carries the eye down its extensive length. The plush pile height and dense wool fibers give the narrative figures a subtle sculptural weight underfoot, absorbing light and softening the hand-drawn contours of each motif. Free from commercial templates or industrial repetition, this mid-century work stands as a rare, highly collectible artifact of 20th-century folk art.

The visual journey unfolds across three prominent rectangular focal panels, each showcasing a glowing golden-yellow urn overflowing with vibrant garden bouquets set against a deep crimson-red ground. Surrounding the central vessels are delicate cypress trees, stylized leaves, and floating star lozenges rendered in soft blush pink, forest green, turquoise blue, and parchment ivory. Separating these lush pictorial chambers are expansive checkerboard sections composed of individual polychromatic squares, each containing nested geometric diamond motifs in a rich palette of honey ochre, terracotta, sky blue, sage, plum, and charcoal black. Framing the entire length is a tailored, narrow geometric inner border in crisp white and red, bounded by a multi-tonal overcast selvedge. Gentle horizontal abrash throughout the hand-dyed yarns creates subtle, organic color shifts across the surface, giving the field an atmospheric living depth. This piece serves as a magnificent, storytelling centerpiece for grand hallways, expansive entry corridors, and art-focused architectural interiors.

Condition:

This vintage Gabbeh runner is in good condition for its age and origin. See less