Orley Shabahang Animates Leopards and Lions With its Animal Rug Designs
Proud species once prevalent in today’s Iran have been hunted almost into extinction. But Bahram Shabahang of Orley Shabahang brings them back to life with his Animal rugs. Leopard and Lion march across a solid ground. The arrows in Duality strike a warning note. In Nobles No. 2, peacocks symbolic of the monarchy repeat. His folkloric depictions are two-dimensional, like ancient cave paintings—drawn by hand before being digitized for hand-knotting in wool or silk. Sizes range from 3 by 5 feet to 9 by 12 feet. The natural palettes are literally that: dyed with saffron, walnut skins, and pomegranate peel.
