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1. Carpet weaving : history Carpet weaving : history Carpets ; Weaving Carpet weaving appears to have developed in those areas where there was an abundant supply of wool and the need for warm, portable, furnishings.
2. Carpet weaving : elements Carpet weaving : elements Carpets ; Weaving Pile weaving consists of three fibre elements and two main knot types, Turkish and Persian. Nomadic weavers tend to use portable horizontal looms whereas those from settled communities are more likely to use looms with a vertical frame.
3. Jam Minaret Jam Minaret War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle east--History--20th century ; Afghanistan--Social life and customs The twelfth century minaret at Jam in Ghor Province in central Afghanistan is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Built in a steep valley at the junction of two rivers, it likely commemorates a military conquest. It stands sixty five meters high, is made of fired brick and is richly embellished with tiles. At the base of the minaret is a river and two poppy plants. The inscription, in Dari, is translated as ‘glass jam’
4. Eight Tank Rug Eight Tank Rug War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History--21st century ; Afghanistan--Social life and customs ; Tanks This rug features vertical rows of Soviet BTR60 Armoured Personnel Carriers with an intricate border. Woven by Baluch weavers, it has much in common with traditional designs. The repetition of motifs on these rugs and their simplification suggests their possible role as aids for the recognition of weapons.
5. Herat Citadel Herat Citadel War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History--21st century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--21st century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--21st century ; Afghanistan--Social life and customs This carpet depicts the Qal'ah or Citadel of Herat, a city in western Afghanistan. The Citadel sits on a mound in the northern part of the city and may be the site of a fort built by Alexander the Great in 330BC. Saved from destruction in the 1950’s, it was restored in the 70’s and today, operates as a museum. In front of the Citadel is a street scene dominated by a Frontier truck. The Frontier was used by Aid Agency workers, members of the Taliban, the Mujahidin, and later, US forces.
6. Made in Afghanistan Made in Afghanistan War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History 21st century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--21st century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--21st century; Military weapons ; Vehicles, Miliary ; Maps, Afghanistan This carpet was likely woven in a workshop in a refugee camp in Pakistan. Many war rugs from period have become ‘poster-like’ in size, in feel (very dense and hard) and with the use of strong hard-edged graphics on a white ground. This piece depicts a variety of arms and vehicles of Soviet manufacture arranged around and on a green map of Afghanistan. The diagonal band protruding from the top of the map is the ‘Friendship Bridge”, formerly used to transport supplies to Russian soldiers, but here depicting their exodus. The Dari language inscriptions refer to their departure.
7. AK47 AK47 War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History 21st century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--21st century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--21st century ; AK-47 rifle The AK-47 or Kalashnikov is a Soviet assault rifle developed in the 1940’s. It was used by the Soviet troops in Afghanistan, hence this carpet with its imposing rifle, might suggest Russian occupation. However, AK-47 copies were also used by the Mujahidin and the Taliban. Depending on the viewer the rug could suggest freedom from foreign political or ideological oppression. To the foreign nationals who purchased the rug, it is likely the rifle is emblematic of Afghanistan and complex counterinsurgency
8. Friendship Bridge Friendship Bridge War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; Afghanistan--History--Soviet occupation, 1979-1989 ; Afghanistan--Politics and government--1973-1989 This early war rug depicts the “Friendship Bridge” linking northern Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. Built by the Soviets in 1982, it was used to transport troops and supplies until their withdrawal in 1989. On either side of the bridge are landing barges, ostensibly from Hungary. They are inscribed with a date corresponding to June/July 1990, Ghor (the name of an Afghan province), “Ihumagrh” (Hungary?) and the Dari word for carpet (kaleen).
9. Exodus of the Soviet Union II Exodus of the Soviet Union II War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History--21st century ; Constitutions--Afghanistan ; Afghanistan--Politics and government--1989-2001 This rug is very similar to 2009.011.000 suggesting that popular designs are shared among weavers.
10. Map of Afghanistan with Provinces Map of Afghanistan with Provinces War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History--21st century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--21st century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; War rugs--Central, Asia--History--21st century ; Afghanistan--Social life and customs ; Maps, Afghanistan This woven map of Afghanistan shows the provincial boundaries. At the top (right hand side) of the rug is a symbol that may represent the Afghan Coat of Arms.
11. Clock Tower I Clock Tower I War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History--21st century ; Afghanistan--Social life and customs There are increasing numbers of carpets featuring Afghan cityscapes and heritage sites. This one represents a clock tower, likely in Kabul with a river and rows of vehicles. It is surrounded by a particularly bold, traditional border. From the vantage point of an outsider, it functions like a postcard; evoking memories of visited places and events. It is also possible, however, that it speaks to an emergent Afghan nationalism, celebrating local history.
12. AK47 AK47 War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History 21st century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--21st century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--21st century ; AK-47 rifle This rug features the ubiquitous AK-47 Soviet assault rifle as well as several helicopters, personnel carriers, grenades and what may be a missile. The style has proven popular abroad and has been widely reproduced. Rendered with sensitivity, it suggests what must be a great visual awareness of weapons
13. Warrior Warrior War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; Tanks It is unclear what the dark, horned figure in the centre of this ominous carpet represents, however, the red instrument protruding from it is likely a Soviet ZPU-4 Anti-Aircraft machine gun or a ZSU-23-4 Anti-Aircraft Weapon System. Both systems have four gun barrels. Several vehicles can be identified, including a BTR-60 Armoured Personnel Carrier (border, bottom left, third vehicle from the bottom), and a BRDM-2 combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (on the black ‘head’ in the centre). There are also a number of inscriptions in Dari and possibly Russian. The short, Dari inscriptions offer various numbers and dates, the longer inscriptions on the dark ‘head’ refer to the ‘Islamic Government of Afghanistan’, and a ‘my home and country’.
14. Najibullah Najibullah War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; Afghanistan--Politics and government, 1973-1989 ; Afghanistan--History--Soviet occupation, 1979-1989 ; Najibullah, Mohammad, 1947-1996 In 2006 Robert Fyke collaborated on an exhibition of war rugs at The Nickle Arts Museum called “Made in Afghanistan: Rugs and Resistance, 1979-2005”. We chose to examine the development of war rugs borrowing selected examples to complement our scheme. One of the rugs that Rob’s collection did not have was Najibullah—a rug we believed was commonly known and traded. In the fall of 2005, Rob wrote to his Peshawar rug dealer friend and drew a quick sketch of the rug he had in mind. Two years later, this bizarre, thumb-nail sketch of a rug arrived in Calgary.
15. Najibullah Najibullah War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; Afghanistan--Politics and government, 1989-2001 ; Afghanistan--History--Soviet occupation, 1979-1989 ; Najibullah, Mohammad, 1947-1996 Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai was the last president of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, left in power by the Soviets after their withdrawal in 1989. He was detested by the Taliban for being anti-Islamic and a Communist. In 1996, after the Taliban seized Kabul, he was tortured and hung. His image here with the Soviet hand holding him in place is a graphic reminder of the lingering effects of the Cold War.
16. Zakni War Rug Zakni War Rug War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History 21st century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--21st century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--21st century This rug was woven by Baluch weavers in a region known as Zakni or Zakini between Herat and Farah in western Afghanistan. A precursor to war rugs, it features the repetitive, geometric patterning common among tribal weavers.
17. War Rug with Natural Dyes War Rug with Natural Dyes War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History--21st century ; Afghanistan--Social life and customs ; Military weapons Traditionally rugs were woven with the materials at hand—local sheep provided the wool while indigenous plants provided the colour—more exotic materials had to be traded for. While synthetic dyes are now widely used, particularly for exported wares, this little carpet stands somewhat in contrast. It depicts an AK-47 assault rifle beside a grenade—worked in wool dyed with natural dyes.
18. Ground Attack Aircraft Ground Attack Aircraft War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; Airplanes, Military ; Afghanistan--Social life and customs The arrival of the Soviets into Afghanistan in 1979 encouraged widespread displacement and migration. Some estimates suggest 3.2 million Afghans migrated to Pakistan, 2.3 million to Iran and others to India, Turkey, US, Canada, Australia and various European countries. This rug was likely woven by an Afghan Baluch woman, near Mashhad, a city in eastern Iran. The lobed medallions and white-ground are inspired by the local carpet weaving traditions. It features motifs that are traditional and novel, including Soviet aircraft, possibly the SU-15, SU-25 or Mig-21. Without the use of Afghan immigrant weavers, Iran’s participation in the international hand-woven carpet market would be limited.
19. Bridge Rug Bridge Rug War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History 21st century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--21st century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--21st century ; Afghanistan--social life and customs This colourful rug appears to depict a modern-looking bridge over a busy street lined with traffic. At one end of the street is a mosque and in the sky are helicopters and jets. It is not clear whether the rug is depicting some real or hoped for!
20. Herat Mosque with Column Herat Mosque with Column War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History--21st century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--21st century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--21st century ; Afghanistan--Social life and customs ; Mosques ; Herat (Afghanistan) The Great Mosque of Herat (Masjid-i Jami) is a large, congregational mosque in Herat, a city in western Afghanistan. It was built on the site of earlier mosques from about 1200 AD and has been added to and restored frequently since then. Boxy, perhaps Soviet-style vehicles line the road in front of the mosque, while jets fill the skies.
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