The Late Tabriz Master Weaver Abbas Alabaf



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Persian Rugs the O'Connell Guide

The Late Tabriz Master Weaver Abbas Alabaf

From www.RugIdea.com.com

Abbas Alabaf, Tabriz rug master weaver
Abbas Ali Alabaf, a master weaver in Tabriz passed away at the age of 89. Alabaf, means "fine weaver" in Persian. He was born in Tabriz in 1918. His father, Hassan Alabaf had a carpet weaving factory in Tabriz, and Abbas, went there from early ages and started dyeing, weaving and designing rugs. When he was 11, his designs were already well liked by his father's customers in many different countries around the world. His father gave him the power of attorney in 1938, when he was only 20, to do all the sales, at national and international level. His father died in 1949, and Abbas was in charge of the family (his mother and his six brothers) and made them his partners. His brothers opened up their own business later. Abbas became a reputable Tabriz rug producer using his extra ordinary talent and passion for Tabriz carpets. Although Abbas was old, but he did not like to sit idle and he worked hard to maintain the good name and reputation he had acquired through decades of
passionate work.

See Hamad-Mahdie Alabaf at the Kish Carpet Festival 2005

RugNotes: A BRIEF HISTORY OF "ALABAF" RUGS

RugNotes: Wednesday, May 11, 2005: "A BRIEF HISTORY OF "ALABAF" RUGS
Persian and Oriental Rugs - Fine, Antique, Imported, Hand-knotted, Best Prices, Most Selection, Custom Available: "A BRIEF HISTORY OF "ALABAF" RUGS: Tabriz carpets signed by "Alabaf" have a 120-year-old background. The "Alabaf" family weaving rugs today is the third generation of rug producers. The grandfather (first generation) operated a workshop with over 300 looms and around 1000 workers and weavers. He passed away in 1949, and only four out of his seven sons continued the work of their father (second generation). "Alabaf" carpets made by the first generation are at least 60 years old. Rugs that belong to the first and second generations have used 100% natural and vegetable dyes. But those made by the third generation, starting in 1985, have about 5% chemical colors. It is believed that the second generation of "Alabaf" used the best quality of wool and dyes. This is the period between 1948 and 1990 when "Alabaf" family was at its peak as a high-quality rug producer. The wool was obtained from Golpayegan area, and had the highest quality available in Iran. Very few of the old pieces made by "Alabaf" do not have a signature. Instead of a signature, some of them have the number 185 which reads "Alabaf" in the Abjad alphabet. The majority of designs are the work of Mir Mosavar Arjangi and his son Manochehr Arjangi, two of the best designers in Tabriz. The "Alabaf" family has produced rugs between 30 and 70 raj. The first workshop was located in their backyard and was active for 40 years. It was then moved to a new place where it is operating even today, with less than 100 looms. Fortunately, very few of their designs have been copied with a fake "Alabaf" signature. The hard work of three generations has made the name "Alabaf" a source of pride for the Persian Rug industry."