Old Afghan | 218 x 133 cm | Nr. Z-4512

Old Afghan

Delivery time	2 days
Origin	Afghanistan
Dimensions	218 cm x 133 cm (= 2.9 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool
knots	90.000
Condition	pre-owned, cleaned & partially restored
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 96 years old and a true collector's piece.

Material

The pile of this Old 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 number of impressive properties: 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 Old Afghan is made of new wool.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this Old Afghan. It has had owners before you who valued it and lived with it. It was knotted around 96. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good, though only partly restored, condition. The edges are damaged in places. The pile is worn in places. We have not fully restored this Old Afghan because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If you would like us to, we will of course happily continue the restoration for you. We can bring almost any rug back to near-perfect condition.