Afghan | 186 x 152 cm | Nr. 20101

Geometric Afghan, rust red with border

Origin	Afghanistan
Dimensions	186 cm x 152 cm (= 2.83 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: wool
knots per m²2	240.000
Pile height	3mm
Year of manufacture	1960
Colour	Rust red, Beige
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Rugs made in Afghanistan – known as Afghan rugs, or simply Afghans – are unmistakable. In Afghanistan's cultural melting pot, Baluch, Turkmen, Kazakh and Uzbek weavers came together, each bringing influences from their homelands. During the 19th century, Turkoman tribes settled villages in Afghanistan, which brought Turkoman weaving styles into the region. The designs of the various tribal groups – among them Esari, Salor, Tekke and Yomut – are wonderfully varied. What holds them together stylistically is the use of intricate elephant's foot motifs (known as guls), lively reds, decorative bands and ornamental end panels.

Tribal weavers used natural dyes to create an enormous range of reds, from deep aubergine brown to warm burnt orange. These glowing colours are traditionally combined with clear blues and ivory accents. While the tribes of Afghanistan frequently use guls and serrated stars, it is in the decorative borders and end panels that weavers have traditionally worked a little of themselves and their culture into the design. The same is true of the decorative rugs from Bukhara, where all-over gul motifs are widespread.

The gul is a versatile motif, used as a medallion or for repeating patterns. It can be set against a monochrome field or linked into a striking tile pattern. The rich colours and bold design of antique Afghan rugs make them spectacular statement pieces that complement a wide variety of interior styles perfectly.

Because of the political situation in Afghanistan, only a few Afghan rugs are still made today.

Pattern

The abstract, geometric composition is what gives this Afghan its understated elegance. The pattern flatters the way a room is arranged and never draws attention away from the furniture, the décor or the architectural details. It creates a pleasant atmosphere without dominating the style of the room.

The ornate border forms a wonderful contrast with the centre and shapes the transition at the edge of the rug.

The repeating elements of this Afghan rug have no particular centre. The recurring repeat pattern feels calming, but never dull. Rugs with a repeat pattern are also described as all-over patterned.

The surface of this Afghan has a mottled look. Shifts in tone and the light-and-dark shading of the pile yarn make the colours shimmer and keep the rug forgiving of dirt. These so-called colour breaks, known as abrash, give the rug a livelier character. The mottling comes about because the wool of this Afghan was hand-spun. During dyeing, the natural pigments are taken up to differing degrees.

The background of this Afghan is rust red. The border is worked in rust red, beige and dark blue.

Condition

This Afghan has a story to tell. It was hand-knotted around 1960. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good, though unrestored, condition. We have not restored this Afghan because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If that is what you would like, we will of course be happy to restore it for you. Either way, this Afghan will give you pleasure for decades to come.

Material

The pile of this Afghan was hand-knotted from high-quality new wool. New wool is obtained by gently shearing sheep. New wool is a renewable, natural raw material with a whole range of impressive qualities: thanks to the natural lanolin in the wool, the surface repels droplets of water and is therefore naturally protected against dirt. Wool also offers excellent thermal insulation, helps regulate the indoor climate and dampens sound. The foundation (weft and warp threads) of this Afghan is made of new wool.