Berber or Gabbeh: the difference between two hand-knotted traditions

Are you looking for a thick, soft rug and have you come across both Berber and Gabbeh styles? Both traditions are known for their soft, full pile, but their origins and appearance differ. On this site, that difference is also clearly shown in the product details themselves: Berber rugs are extensively documented with information on weave, pattern and pile height, whilst Gabbeh rugs are primarily described in terms of origin and colour.

Berber or Gabbeh: a brief overview

Feature	Berber	Gabbeh
Provenance (in this catalogue)	Atlas Mountains, Morocco	India
Weaving technique	Hand-knotted, details provided	Not listed in the product details on this site
Cartridge	Varies depending on the tradition: tribal, diamond, dots	Not listed in the product details on this site
Pole height	Varies, often with a long pile	Not listed in the product details on this site
Material	Wool	Not listed in the product details on this site

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The Berber people come from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco

Berber is the collective term for knotted rugs from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, including traditions such as Beni Ouarain and Azilal within that family. A full explanation of the family and its subtypes can be found in Berber or Beni Ouarain.

• Naima Azilal rug white: the tribal pattern and the deep-pile weave are exactly the sort of detailed product information that is missing from the Gabbeh section on this site.
• Sofiane Azilal rug white: this rug, too, demonstrates just how comprehensively Berber motifs have been documented, from the weave to the pattern.
• Zineb Azilal rug white: the tribal motif style once again highlights the dense, deep-pile weave characteristic of this Berber tradition.
• Tarik Azilal rug white: here, too, you’ll find the full range of features, from fabric to pattern, just as with the rest of this Berber selection.

On this site, Gabbeh is primarily categorised by origin and colour

Gabbeh is the range for which the product details on this site are limited to origin, colour, price and stock status. Fabric, pattern and pile height are not listed as separate attributes for these products. This does not mean that these characteristics are absent; it simply means that they cannot be verified separately here, as is the case with Berber rugs.

What has been confirmed regarding the Gabbeh products in this selection is:

• The country of origin is listed as India.
• The colour and price are listed in full in the product details.
• Stock levels are up to date and checked in real time.

• Navid Gabbeh rug beige: Apart from its colour and price, the fact that this rug originates from India is the only verified technical detail.
• Nadia Gabbeh rug red: this rug, too, is confirmed to originate from India, with no further documented technical specifications.
• Farid Gabbeh rug white: the white colour scheme and the fact that it originates from India are the only concrete details here, just as with the other two Gabbeh rugs in this selection.
• Kamran Gabbeh rug white: For this rug, too, its origin – India – and its colour are the only documented technical details.

When do you choose which one?

• If you want to know exactly how thick a rug is and what pattern it has before you buy, choose a Berber rug – the product details are provided in full here.
• You’ve already decided on the look of a Gabbeh, so the technical details are less important: take a look at the product photos to check the pile and thickness, and check the origin in the product description.
• You’re still undecided between Berber and a completely different language family, such as Persian: that difference is explained in Berber versus Persian.
• If you’re not yet sure whether you’re looking for a Berber or a Kelim, start by Berber or Kilim for that broader distinction.

Frequently Asked Questions