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	Friendship Bridge Title Friendship Bridge Subject 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 Description Figured carpet with multiple borders. The centrefield is coloured dark blue with a bold diagonal band running from the upper LHS to lower RHS representing the so-called "Friendship Bridge" linking Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. On the bridge are six trucks heading north and one heading south as well as a number of landmine symbols. On either side of the ends of the bridge are boat-like structures. The area around the bridge is filled with plants and small filler motifs; the areas around the structures are filled with jets or missiles and helicopters. The border consists of three red guard stripes with a running vine design, an inner band with a zigzag design and a second band with red and yellow flowers. The selvedges are brown wool and the ends are finished with a band of weft substitution patterning and plain weave in brown, red and cream. There are short fringes of natural cream wool. Narrative 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). Region Afghanistan ; Pakistan Time Period depicted/represented 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 Type of textile rugs ; carpets Dimensions [cm] 162 x 91 Materials wool Technique knotted pile Language of Inscriptions eng, per Period Made circa 1990 Publisher University of Calgary Collection Nickle Arts Museum Textile Collection Sub-collection Fyke Rug Collection Themes Fyke Rug Collection. Tradition and Change Rights This collection is owned by the University of Calgary, Nickle Arts Museum and was donated by Robert Fyke. Permission to use any image or material from this site should be requested from The Nickle Arts Museum. http://digitization.ucalgary.ca/index.php/Conditions_of_Use Accession Number 2009.039.000 Type image
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