Handmade Oriental Rugs from Afghanistan
Every rug in this section was woven by hand in Afghanistan, in wool. The rugs are grouped by design, not by country: Afghan Rugs holds the pile rugs in Turkmen, Persian-style, Turkish-style and tribal patterns, Kilim Rugs the banded and geometric kilim designs, and Turkmen Rugs the red medallion rugs of the Turkmen and Baluch tradition.
Sizes run from small mats of about 90 × 55 cm to room-size rugs of 300 × 200 cm (9 ft 10 in × 6 ft 7 in). Each handmade rug is unique, so the size on the listing is the size of that rug. Rugs ship worldwide by tracked airmail from Bukhara; shipping is calculated by weight at checkout.
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How this section is arranged
All of our rugs come from Afghanistan, so the sub-sections describe the design rather than the place. Afghan Rugs is the largest: wool pile rugs in Turkmen gul medallions, Persian-style floral fields, Turkish and Anatolian geometrics, Moroccan-style lattices and tribal star patterns. Kilim Rugs holds the rugs in kilim designs, with bands, steps and diamonds. Turkmen Rugs holds the classic madder-red medallion rugs, including Khal Mohammadi and Baluch weaves.
Choosing a size
Most of the rugs fall into two groups. Small rugs of roughly 125–155 cm by 80–115 cm (about 4 to 5 ft by 2 ft 8 in to 3 ft 9 in) work beside a bed, in an entrance or in front of a fireplace. Room-size rugs of 300 × 200 cm (9 ft 10 in × 6 ft 7 in) go under a sofa and coffee table, or under a dining table for six with the chairs still on the rug when pulled out. A few long, narrow pieces suit a corridor. Measure the floor first, and leave a border of bare floor around a large rug.
Pile rugs and kilims
A pile rug is knotted: short lengths of wool are tied around the warp threads row by row and clipped, which gives a soft, thick surface. A kilim is flat-woven: the coloured wefts are packed down between the warps with no pile at all, so it is thinner and lighter, and it is traditionally used on the floor, on a wall or over a bench. The listing for each rug gives its construction, pile and foundation.
Looking after a wool rug
Vacuum regularly on a low setting, without a rotating brush, and never pull at loose threads; trim them level with the pile instead. Turn the rug around every few months so it wears and fades evenly, and keep it out of strong direct sun. Blot spills at once with a clean cloth and cold water, working from the edge inwards, and leave a full wash to a professional rug cleaner. On a wooden or tiled floor, a thin rug underlay stops the rug slipping and protects the back.
Questions
Where are the rugs made?
In Afghanistan, by hand. The section names, Afghan, Kilim and Turkmen, describe the design of the rug, and names such as "Turkish" or "Persian" on a listing describe its pattern, not where it was woven.
Is the rug I receive the one on the listing?
Yes. Each handmade rug is unique, so the listing is for that rug and gives its measured size.
How are rugs shipped, and what does it cost?
By tracked airmail from Bukhara, Uzbekistan: USA 9–18 working days, Europe and the UK 8–16, elsewhere 10–20. Shipping is calculated by weight at checkout. Import duties, where they apply, are set by the destination country.
Can I see more photos of a rug before buying?
Yes. Contact us with the name of the rug and we can send more photos, including the back and the edges.