Rugs from Afghanistan

Who weaves rugs in Afghanistan

Most rugs from Afghanistan are woven in homes and small workshops, often by women. In the north, Turkmen weavers have worked for generations around towns such as Aqcha, Andkhoy and Mazar-i-Sharif. In the west, toward Iran and Pakistan, Baluch weavers make darker, finer tribal rugs.

Since the 1980s, many weavers from Afghanistan have also worked in Pakistan, first in refugee camps and later in workshops. A rug they weave there may be sold as a rug from Afghanistan or as a Pakistani rug.

Turkmen and Khal Mohammadi rugs

Turkmen rugs repeat guls, medallion-like emblems that once marked each tribe, usually on a red ground. They are among the most familiar rugs from Afghanistan.

Khal Mohammadi rugs are a well-known Turkmen type from the Aqcha area. They are named after a weaver, Khal Mohammad, whose rugs became popular in the 1970s. They are known for a deep, rich red, dark blue accents and wool with a natural sheen.

Chobi, Kazak and kilim rugs

Chobi rugs have large, open floral designs in soft, faded colors. They follow the style of the Ziegler rugs that were woven in Persia in the late 1800s for European buyers. The best are made with handspun wool and natural dyes, a practice weavers from Afghanistan helped revive in the late 20th century.

Kazak designs, bold geometric patterns from the Caucasus, are also widely woven in Afghanistan, usually in strong reds, blues and golds.

Kilims are flatweaves with no pile. Afghanistan has a long kilim tradition, and its kilims are light, reversible and easy to move from room to room.

What to check before you buy

Look at the back. A hand-knotted rug shows its full design on the back, with small irregularities that a machine would not make.

Look for abrash, the gentle changes of shade within one color. It is a sign of handspun wool and dyeing in small batches, and it is prized in Chobi and Turkmen rugs.

Ask about the wool. Handspun wool from local sheep is soft and wears well. Rugs with a very high, even sheen may have been chemically washed, which can weaken the fibers.

Quick answers