When looking for Oriental rugs, you may have come across Afghan rugs. If you’re wondering what are these rugs and whether are they worth it, then read this guide so you can decide if you want to bring a piece of these history-rich tribal rugs home.
What Are Afghan Rugs?
It’s obvious from the name that handmade rug styles that first originated from Afghanistan are called Afghan rugs. Different tribes in Afghanistan use different techniques for weaving rug patterns so there are various patterns and designs that Afghan rugs can have. The most popular regions of Afghanistan where these rugs are crafted include Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat.
With the popularity of Afghan rugs, other countries, where Oriental rugs are made, have also begun to create rugs that have the patterns of Afghan rugs. They are also called Afghan rugs because they are handmade by skilled weavers and by using high-quality materials and dyes.
Types Of Afghan Rugs
There are numerous types of Afghan rugs categorized by the region of Afghanistan or any other country they originated from. We’ll discuss three of the most popular types of Afghan rugs.
Turkmen Rugs
These rugs are produced by the Turkmen in Turkmenistan. Turkmen also reside in Afghanistan and Iran. Those of them who traveled to Afghanistan or lived there began producing Turkmen rugs in Afghanistan as well and the country also became popular for these rugs. Balkh, Samangan, Sheberghan, and Kunduz are well-known regions of Afghanistan where Turkmen rugs are produced.
Balochi Rugs
Balochi rugs are woven by the Baloch people who live in the Balochistan region that’s split between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. In Pakistan, the area is the Balochistan province – in Iran, the areas are Sistan and Baluchestan – and in Afghanistan, they include Nimruz, Kandahar, and Helmand provinces.
Balochi rugs have repeated motifs that are usually arranged diagonally. However, there are various other patterns and designs as well. Wool is commonly used in Balochi rugs with other materials like cotton and goat & camel hair.
Kazak Rugs
Although Kazak is a city in Azerbaijan, Kazak rugs are made in Afghanistan and Armenia. These rugs took inspiration from the old rugs of the USSR (Russia) and the Persian Empire (Iran). Moreover, when many Afghan people took refuge in Pakistan, they started the rug-weaving business in the new country. Kazak rugs mostly have the usual red and yellow, but also golden and blue colors.
The distinction in the designs of Kazak rugs is that straight lines are used for creating patterns. This makes for a unique design. Moreover, they are also considered rugs that have higher knot density. With high knot density patterns become clearer and better just like more pixels ensure a better picture quality.
How An Afghan Rug Is Made?
The weaver first sources the wool. It can be from a region in Afghanistan or imported from any other country like Belgium (more on this in the later section). Sometimes, artisans have their flock of sheep which is the source of wool for them.
If the wool is not dyed, it’s dyed using natural, vegetable dyes. However, modern artisans also use a mix of synthetic and natural dyes for their rugs.
A rug is weaved by multiple people because the creation of a single rug can sometimes take a year. An Afghan rug is handmade with one knot at a time. Depending on the size and density of the rug, and the number of people working on a single rug, the crafting process of one rug can take from 4-12 months. Some weavers use looms while others sit on the floor for the whole weaving process.
After weaving the rug, the crafters trim and wash it, and then hang it out to dry. Once it’s dry, they brush the pile or surface of the rug as a finishing touch. The end product is a piece of traditional art that should be admired.
Materials Used For Afghan Rugs
Various materials are used in these rugs. When it’s said “rug material”, it means the material that’s used for the surface. Wool is the most common surface material for Afghan rugs while for the base, cotton is used.
Three popular types of wool are used for weaving Afghan rugs:
Ghazni Wool
This wool comes from the Afghan city of Ghazni, hence the name. However, it also comes from other regions. The spinning and dying process of this wool is different from other wools. After shearing and washing the wool, it’s spun using hands and made thin. When it’s converted to yarn, the wool is dyed with natural dyes.
The wool has a bit hard due to the hand-spinning. So, the surface is not as soft as other wool types. The wool is durable and the rugs made of it are unique.
Merino Wool
Merino wool is a popular fabric due to its cost-effectiveness. It’s machine-spun so the wool is soft and has uniformity in colors. However, if we compare the durability of this material with Ghazni wool, it lags behind.
Belgian Wool
Belgian wool is a high-quality wool imported from Belgium. It’s considered the best of the three types of wool used for crafting rugs in Afghanistan. This is because it doesn’t have the abrash effect associated with Ghazni rugs which means they are soft. Plus, Merino wool is soft but is not durable. This is not the case for Belgian wool because it’s soft yet durable.
These qualities come with a price. Afghan rugs made of Belgian wool are always more expensive than rugs crafted with Ghazni or Merino wool.
Why Are Afghan Rugs Popular?
The Materials
Afghan rugs are typically made of wool sourced locally or imported from another country like Belgium. Some weavers also use silk with wool when piling rugs (weaving the surface of the rug).
The Dyes
Natural or a mixture of natural and chemical dyes are used. The colors used in Afghan rugs are deep and dark. Among them red, blue, black, and brown are the most common. Afghan rugs made of natural dyes don’t fade. Even if you see a 50-year-old antique Afghan rug, it would appear vibrant and beautiful.
Thick Pile
Afghan rugs have a thick pile that adds to the comfort the rug provides. The pile of Afghan rugs is thicker than that of other Oriental rugs. However, don’t be surprised if you see flat-weaved Afghan rugs because they are also made in Afghanistan and are called kilim rugs.
Designs
The motifs in Afghan rugs are mostly big and bold. There are less floral and more geometric shapes employed in designs and patterns. This is the most prominent difference between Afghan rugs and other rugs of Central Asia.
High Knot Count
High knot density is not limited to Afghan rugs, but it’s another reason for the durability of these rugs. More knots allow for sharper patterns as well.
Small Size
Although now Afghan rugs are made in all sizes, the earlier Afghan rugs were smaller in size. This was because they were made by Afghan nomads who created rugs for domestic use so they kept the size small.
Conclusion
Afghan rugs are unique, durable, and comfortable. They can be costly similar to Persian rugs. If you’re looking for an Afghan rug, make sure to find it in wholesale Oriental rugs Virginia.
