The history and culture of Afghan rugs
The first Afghan rugs date back 2000 years. These carpets were made from wool, by a largely nomadic population of shepherds, and used as bedding.
Before the Soviet occupation, and the changes this wrought, Afghanistan was a quiet, peaceful country. The tribes who lived within its borders were mostly concerned with agriculture, and valued family and communal living above all else.
The process of making a rug was rooted in community – women came together in tents to spin wool on small looms. These rugs were woven with patterns that represented daily life in the village, including geometric guls or curvilinear flowers, and were blue, beige and ochre.
In the 1970s, when Afghanistan was plunged into a period of occupation and uncertainty, many rug-makers began to weave their strife into carpets in the form of tanks, guns and soldiers. Today, these are known as Afghan war rugs.
Now, the most common motifs found in Afghan rugs are more abstract. Many rugs feature geometric shapes (representing a nomadic connection to nature), flowers (representing, beauty, growth and prosperity), or ram horns (symbolising strength and fertility). Afghan rugs also frequently feature more specific Anatolian symbols associated with warding off the evil eye.
What makes Afghan rugs so high quality?
Genuine Afghan rugs are a significant investment, so it’s normal to wonder what makes these carpets so superior to other rugs. The cost is related to the quality of the materials, the skill of the artisans, and the many months it takes to create just one Afghan rug.
Materials
Most Afghan rugs are made from 100% wool. While some are made from silk, or backed by a cotton foundation, you will never find synthetic materials like polyester in a genuine product. The wool used is often taken from the tail of the Karakul sheep, found in the province of Ghanzi, which is among the coldest locations in Afghanistan. Due to the climate where they live, Karakul sheep have a dual fleece – a soft inner layer and a long outer layer. This contributes to the ultrasoft, luxurious feel underfoot.
The wool yarn is dyed naturally, with vegetable and insect dyes derived from madder root (for red), indigo (for blue), walnut husks (for brown and camel) and weld (for yellow). Because these dyes are natural, they are less prone to fading than chemical agents
Skill
Each rug is handcrafted by specialty artisans. These artisans have both inherited their craft from their ancestors and trained extensively. Because the rugs are handmade, each one is unique.
The most important (and time consuming) aspect of Afghan rug making is the knotting. Weavers follow a strategic plan, and the rug grows in size with each row of knots.
Time
Even for the most experienced rug-maker, weaving takes a significant amount of time – approximately two thirds of the entire production process. A skilled weaver can knot around 10,000 knots a day. Depending on the intricacy of the knots and how many people are working on a single rug, it would take 3-9 months to produce a single carpet.
Differences between Afghan and Persian rugs
While Persian and Afghan rugs are often conflated, there are some key differences. The most obvious difference is origin – Persian rugs come from Iran (formerly Persia) while Afghan rugs come from the tribal regions of Afghanistan.
Here are some other differences:
- Design: Afghan rugs incorporate bold geometric and tribal motifs, while Persian rugs usually feature intricate, floral, curved designs.
- Knot type: Afghan rugs use a symmetrical knot, while Persian rugs use an asymmetrical knot, known as senneh.
- Materials: Afghan rugs are made from a thick wool, sometimes incorporating camel and goat hair, while Persian rugs use wool, silk, or a combination of the two.
- Colours: Afghan rugs feature deep reds, browns, black and ivory, while Persian rugs showcase reds, blues, golds, and creams.
- Cost: Of the two, Afghan rugs are more affordable, and better suited to daily use, while Persian rugs tend to be pricier.
- Durability: Afghan rugs are considered highly durable, and suited for high traffic areas, while Persian rugs are more delicate.
Here at KnotNCo we stock both Persian and Afghan Rugs and ship them free of charge all over Australia. We also have a Sydney showroom where you can come and view the rugs yourself before purchasing.
Types of Afghan rugs
At KnotNCo, we are proud to have everything from Kundus rugs to Afghan Kilim rugs for sale.
The type of rug is classified by the weaving technique used, the material utilised and the history of the craft. Some rugs are named for the weaving masters who popularised particular techniques, for the wood used in the dying process, or for the ethnic groups who started the practice.
Kilim is a particular kind or flatweave technique which results in no pile. This kind of rug is usually lightweight and reversible, with a bold, geometric design that commonly includes diamonds and stripes. This kind of rug uses earthy, natural tones like red, orange, brown, blue, green and ivory.
Afghan Kilim rugs are made with 100% wool, and don’t require any knots. Instead, this kind of carpet is woven with interlocking weft threads.
The word chob means ‘wood’ in Farsi, and is likely a reference to the wood used for dying Chobi rugs.
Hand-knotted and spun with a medium pile, these rugs are known for their soft and luxurious feel and are made from wool with a cotton foundation, using asymmetrical Persian knots. They often feature botanical patterns in more muted tones like beige, soft blue and light green, with a naturally antique look.
This kind of rug is named for the Kazak (or Qazaq) people of the Caucasus region. The weaving style was adopted by Afghanis through Caucasian trade routes.
Kazak rugs are hand-knotted from wool with a low pile, and feature geometric, tribal motifs including crosses, medallions, and stars in high contrast red, blue, gold and green.
This kind of rug was named after the weaving master Khal Mohammad, a famous Afghan rug designer.
Khal Mohammadi rugs are hand-knotted with a dense, thick pile, often in burgundy. They feature octagonal gul motifs with floral or elephant-foot designs, which usually surround a central medallion. These pieces are made from 100% wool, and are considered one of the finest Afghan rugs available.
Named for the Turkoman people, a prominent ethnic group in Central Asia, this kind of rug is hand-knotted with repeating octagonal gul motifs over a red base. This is generally considered a more minimalist style of modern Afghan rug.
Made from a wool pile with a cotton foundation, this kind of rug is hardwearing, and considered suitable for everyday use.
Kundus rugs
Named after Kunduz, a province in northern Afghanistan, this kind of rug is made with a hand-knotting technique, resulting in a dense, plush pile. With geometric shapes, diamond motifs and floral patterns in bold reds, deep blues and earthy browns, Kundus rugs are made from 100% wool. This type uses a Turkish knot called Ghiordes.
This type of rug owes its name to a Turkmen tribe, and to gul, the iconic octagonal motif commonly used in its design. Khoja Roshnai Rugs get their name from the Khoja Roshnai tribe associated with their origin.
Hand-knotted with a high pile, and featuring traditional patterns in deep red, black, blue, and golden beige, these rugs have a wool pile with a cotton foundation. Like Kundus rugs, both Mowri Gul and Khoja Roshnai Rugs use Ghiordes knots.
The name Belgic is a trade term, and may have originated from the Baluch (or Baloch) tribes, a nomadic tribal group living across Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.
Hand-knotted with a medium pile, these rugs have a highly geometric design, often featuring abstract or modern motifs in muted tones. Made from wool, which is often blended with silk, these rugs are considered hard-wearing, while still being high quality.
Afghan Rugs FAQs
What is an Afghan rug called?
There are many different kinds of Afghan rugs, with names like Kilim, Chobi, Kundus, Mowri Gul and Belgic, to name a few. These names are sometimes related to specific weaving techniques, tribes where the rugs originated, or to ancient weaving masters. Beyond origin, the name of the rug can also denote its durability, style of knotting, the material used, and the patterns featured.
Why are Afghan rugs so expensive?
The cost of Afghan rugs is determined by the high quality of the materials used, the considerable skill of the artisans, and the many months taken to complete just one piece. To properly compensate everyone in the supply chain for their time and labour, it’s necessary to charge a premium price.
It’s worth noting that while Afghan rugs are an investment, they are generally cheaper than Persian rugs, and much higher quality than the mass-produced, machine-made rugs found in your local department store.
How do I identify an Afghan rug?
- Feel: A genuine Afghan rug should be soft underfoot, with a thicker pile than cheaper, machine-made rugs. You can also rub the surface of the rug with an open palm. If no wool fibres stick to your hand, it is very likely a quality Afghan rug.
- Underside: You can also inspect the underside of the rug – because Afghan rugs are handmade, they’ll likely have an ‘uneven’ or bumpy underside. You should be able to see the knots that make the pattern on the top side.
- Colour: Afghan rugs are known for their distinctive geometric patterns in red, blue, and black.
Does Afghanistan make rugs?
Yes, rug making in Afghanistan is a tradition that goes back 2000 years and we personally visit rug makers in Afghanistan and source our rugs directly so you can get the best quality handmade Afghan rugs at the best prices.
The first Afghan rugs were woven by village women who gathered in tents around a loom, and were initially used as bedding. Traditional methods have been passed down through generations, with designs reflecting the diverse ethnic groups, regions, and landscapes of Afghanistan. The turbulent history of the country, from peace to occupation and uncertainty, has significantly impacted the style of the rugs.
Today, Afghan rugs are prized worldwide for their rich history and craftsmanship.
How long do Afghan rugs last?
Afghan rugs can last for decades, or even centuries if properly cared for. This is thanks to multiple factors including the quality of the materials (the premium wool and natural dyes), and the skill of the artisans. These artisans are trained to craft an incredible number of knots per square inch (or KSPI). This dense knotting improves the rug's resistance to wear and tear, as it can withstand heavy foot traffic and abrasion better than a rug with fewer knots.
It’s also worth considering that, like brass, many people believe an antique or aged Afghan rug only becomes more beautiful with time. This is an heirloom that is passed down, and may adorn the home of your children’s children.
Regular cleaning, avoiding direct sunlight, and preventing damage from high traffic areas can help preserve the rug for many generations.
How can you tell if an Afghan rug is high quality?
The easiest way to check the quality of an Afghan rug is to check the number of knots per square inch. A higher KSPI means that the rug has more intricate details, which often translates to higher quality craftsmanship. Because of this dense knotting, Afghan rugs with a high KSPI are better at holding their shape, maintaining their colour, and lasting longer, even through generations of use.
To check the KSPI, choose a section of the rug and examine the weave with a magnifying glass or your smartphone’s zoom. Focus on one small square, about 1 inch by 1 inch, and count the knots, both horizontally and vertically within that square. Multiply the number of knots to get the number of knots in that square inch.
If you counted 10 knots horizontally, and 10 knots vertically, then the KSPI is 100. Fine Afghan rugs can have anywhere from 100 to over 300 knots per square inch, while coarser ones may have fewer. The higher the KSPI, the higher the quality.
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