Afghan rugs, Afghan carpets

Despite the turmoil within Afghanistan over the last decades, carpet and rug making still thrives and indeed continues to expand. It must also be understood that the tribal communities who make rugs still retain their traditional nomadic disrepect of our modern geopolitical boundaries so have often migrated across borders and continue to produce their traditional carpets in their new country.

Thus, rugs we attribute as "Afghani" are often actually made in Pakistan. This is certainly the case with the carpets known as Khal Mohammadi. This is actually the name of a talented designer and maker from Ersari Turkomen tribe, who came up with his designs about 25 years ago in Afghanistan. Since he subsequently settled in Pakistan, Khal Mohammadi rugs are made both in the Kunduz area of North Afghanistan and in the Peshawar area of Pakistan. These rugs are well designed, mormally with a deep red ground. They are well made and very hard wearing. The Turkomen tribes in the North also still make many of their traditional Bokara carpets.

In western Afghanistan, Herat is the centre of carpet production. In the 15th century, Herat was the artistic and intellectual centre of the Islamic world. Today, Herat continues as a center of traditional artistic skills. It is a centre for Balouch style capets which are brought here from many parts of the country. Also part of the Herati production, Tekkes as well as members of the Yomud and Saruq tribes are producing extremely fine Turkoman designs.

The Baluch (or Balouch) are nomadic tribes located primarily in the areas west and south-west of Herat adjoining The Iranian border. The distinguishing characteristics of Afghan Baluch carpets are that they are made entirely of wool (Iranian Baluch use cotton warps and wefts). They are knotted on horizontal looms, and only women do the weaving. Wool comes from the Baluchi and Ghilzai breeds of sheep in the South. Baluch carpets vary widely in style, quality and colours.

Oriental Rugs Online carries a large and varied range of top quality Persian rugs, including large Persian carpets. If you're looking for a particular type of rug, try our glossary page and if you still can't find it, please contact us. We have access to huge warehouse stocks and will be happy to help.
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