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	Search results for Change    Refine your search Culture/Creator Baluch (5) Subject War Rugs -- Afghanista... (2) War Rugs -- Afghanista... (1) War Rugs -- Afghanista... (1) War Rugs -- Afghanista... (1) War Rugs -- Afghanista... (1) Show more... results 1-12 of 12 item(s)  page 1 of 1 : ( <<  1  >> ) :: previous : next select all : clear all : add to favorites   Image: Title: Subject: Narrative: 1. Made in Afghanistan : rugs and resistance, 1979-2005 War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century--Exhibitions ; War rugs--Afghanistan--History--21st century--Exhibitions Made in Afghanistan: Rugs and Resistance, 1979-2005 was an exhibition of rugs in 2006 at the Nickle Arts Museum, University of Calgary that offered insight into the recent political history of Afghanistan. 2. 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’. 3. Twelve Tank 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 ; Tanks Like “Eight Tank Rug” (2009.001.000), this rug features two vertical rows of Soviet BTR60 Armoured Personnel Carriers, the topmost turned upside down. Although the same date has been given to both rugs, this one appears slightly later given its simplified border, the absence of knotted fringes, and the introduction of bright colours and new motifs including AK-47s and MiG 21 jet fighters. 4. 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. 5. Prayer Rug with War Motifs War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; Tanks ; Vehicles, Military ; Airplanes, Military The origins of war rugs is often linked to the Baluch peoples living near the city of Herat in Western Afghanistan. Here, it is believed, the Soviet military presence inspired women to begin incorporating new motifs into their weavings. The floppy feel of this rug combined with its glossy wool, goat’s hair selvedges and the combination of traditional and novel motifs suggest it is an early attempt, woven by a Baluch woman on a horizontal loom. 6. Four Horsemen with Rifles War rugs--Afghanistan--History--21st century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--21st century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--21st century ; Afghanistan--Social life and customs This carpet’s design is based on ‘hunting’ carpets woven from the time of the Safavid rulers of Iran as well as during the reign of the Mughals in India. Typically they depict scenes of rulers on horseback hunting, surrounded by animals and lush vegetation. The animals frequently include lions mauling other animals. Together with the horses, they suggest power, prowess, and political might. 7. 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). 8. 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. 9. ZPU-4 Prayer Rug War rugs--Afghanistan--History--21st century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--21st century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--21st century ; Military weapons This rug is a later version of “Warrior” (2009.042.000). It features a similar horned ‘head’ in the centre although this one has only three protrusions that no longer look like guns. In the approximately two decades between these rugs the motifs have been simplified and stylized beyond recognition. The markings do not appear to be meaningful inscriptions. 10. Two Ewer 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 ; Tanks ; Military weapons This rug is a variation on a traditional design that features a symmetrical arrangement of ewers, birds, tanks and AK-47s. Traditionally ewers holding water are used to cleanse hands before a meal. They are a symbol of gracious hospitality at odds with the surrounding military motifs. 11. 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. 12. Repeating Arms War rugs--Afghanistan--History--20th century ; War rugs--Middle East--History--20th century ; War rugs--Asia, Central--History--20th century ; Airplanes, Military ; Tanks ; Helicopters Where traditional Afghan rugs feature memory-based designs—typically small, geometric, repeated motifs—this carpet replaces those with more representational motifs. The Soviet arms and military vehicles depicted attest to the changing conditions of weaving production as well as the critical importance recognizing threats would have played to the weavers and their families. select all : clear all : add to favorites results 1-12 of 12 item(s)  page 1 of 1 : ( <<  1  >> ) :: previous : next
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