Orley Shabahang “Riverbed” Contemporary Persian Rug, 6’ x 9’

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.

Collectors of Persian carpets and Indian rugs are familiar with the name Orley Shabahang. The carpet firm is renowned for its contemporary, Art Deco and heritage-inspired designs that feature traditional hand-woven techniques from ancient Persia. 

Orley Shabahang’s history can be traced back to 1972 in the bazaars of Isfahan, Iran, where Geoffrey Orley, an American who was searching for “the world’s greatest carpets,” met Bahram Shabahang, a carpet dealer. The pair discovered they shared a passion for Persian rug art and became friends and business partners, forming the rug and carpet company in 1973.

At first, Orley Shabahang focused primarily on importing and restoring antique Persian carpets. However, the business partners soon identified a niche market for modern rug designs. By 2001, Orley Shabahang had shifted its focus to creating “Persian revival” carpets, spearheaded by Bahram Shabahang’s unique rug designs.

Orley Shabahang works directly with talented and skilled Iranian weavers who produce Bahram’s rug designs by hand. The process from start to finish uses only traditional methods. All-natural wool from Persian fat-tailed sheep is handspun and organically dyed using vegetable dyes, which are prized for their vibrant, rich colors and fade-resistant tones. The wool is washed in pure, running river water and dried in the sun for up to six weeks. Weavers then make the carpets using knotting techniques passed down through generations. Although the process is time-consuming, Orley Shabahang says it’s necessary to produce such luxurious rugs: “[Our] aim is to make not only the most beautiful carpets but to create them with exemplary quality.”

Orley Shabahang’s rugs have been featured in major publications, including Architectural Digest, Vogue and Town & Country. Its pieces have been shown at galleries and design fairs worldwide, including the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York City in 2018. 

On 1stDibs, find a range of Orley Shabahang rugs and carpets, Asian art and furniture and folk art.