Bahram Shabahang Textiles
The art of Persian rug design has long been in Bahram Shabahang’s blood. Born in Iran but now based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Shabahang can trace his family history back to 16th-century Iran when an ancestor once oversaw carpet weavers in the workshop of King Tahmass Safavieh. Today, Shabahang’s Persian rugs and carpets are distinctly more modern in style, albeit produced by using ancient hand-woven techniques.
The story of Shabahang’s journey to becoming a prolific Persian rug designer begins back in 1972 in the bazaars of Isfahan, Iran. There, he met Geoffrey Orley, an American who was searching for “the world’s greatest carpets.” As Orley told Detroit Design magazine: “Somebody with a big Afro showed me a great carpet. He took me back to his home, and that was [Bahram] Shabahang.”
Having discovered that they shared an affinity for the distinctive artistry behind Persian rugs, Shabahang and Orley became lifelong friends and forged a business partnership, forming the rug and carpet company Orley Shabahang in 1973. At first, they focused mainly on importing and restoring antique Persian carpets, but by 2000, Shabahang wanted to create his own collection of modern and unique rug designs.
With the support of Orley, Shabahang designed several collections of new “Persian revival” carpets. Shabahang, who holds master's degrees in architecture and urban planning, relied on his drafting skills to create the Maps series of rugs, which featured maps of San Francisco, Rome, South America and Washington, D.C. Additional works include the Architecture collection and Persian, Indian and Caucasian rugs with minimalist, abstract and animal designs.
Shabahang’s rugs have been shown at galleries and exhibitions worldwide, including the 30th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York in 2018. Publications such as Vogue, Town & Country and Architectural Digest have also featured his works.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Bahram Shabahang rugs and carpets and folk art.
21st Century and Contemporary Persian Modern Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Persian Minimalist Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
2010s Persian Modern Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
2010s Persian Tribal Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
1910s Persian Vintage Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
1910s Persian Vintage Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Late 19th Century Persian Bakshaish Antique Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
1880s Persian Serapi Antique Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
Late 20th Century Persian Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Silk
Late 19th Century Persian Sultanabad Antique Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
1980s Persian Islamic Vintage Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Silk
Late 19th Century Persian Tabriz Antique Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
1880s Persian Sultanabad Antique Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
Early 20th Century Persian Sultanabad Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
Early 19th Century Azerbaijani Country Antique Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Natural Fiber, Organic Material, Cotton, Wool
Early 20th Century Persian Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Persian Tribal Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Persian Tribal Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
Early 2000s Persian Mid-Century Modern Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
2010s Persian Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
2010s Persian Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Persian Modern Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool
21st Century and Contemporary Persian Modern Bahram Shabahang Textiles
Wool