Old Afghan | 218 x 118 cm | Nr. Z-850

Geometric old Afghan runner, light red with border and diamonds

Origin	Afghanistan
Dimensions	218 cm x 118 cm (= 2.57 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: wool
knots per m²2	200.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1950
Colour	Light red
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. This old Afghan is around 70 years old and a real collector's favourite.

Pattern

The edge of the rug is graced by a surround (border). The border forms a wonderful contrast to the centre.

In the pattern of this Afghan it is above all the diamonds that stand out. A diamond is a rhombus standing on one of its points, and in an Oriental rug its four equal sides can be serrated, stepped or set with hooks. The diamond is one of the oldest basic forms in the Oriental rug. In the Islamic world it carries a symbolic meaning: it stands for the immortality of the soul. That is why it is found so often as a filler motif.

The abstract, geometric composition is what gives this Afghan its understated elegance. The pattern flatters the way a room is laid out and never steals attention from the furniture, the decor or the architectural details. It settles beautifully into any setting and subtly rounds out a room's furnishings.

The background of this Afghan is light red. The border is designed in light red and black.

Condition

This Afghan had admirers before you. It was hand-knotted around 1950. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good but unrestored condition. The pile has thinned overall. The fringes could do with a repair. We have not restored this Afghan because we feel it has a special charm just the way it is. If you would like us to, we will of course gladly restore the rug for you. Either way, this Afghan will bring 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.