Afghan rug

An Afghan rug (or Afghan carpet[1]) is a type of handwoven floor-covering textile traditionally made in Afghanistan.[2] Many of the Afghan rugs are also woven by Afghan refugees who reside in Pakistan.[3] In 2008, 2013, and 2014, Afghan rug won international awards, which is held every year in Hamburg, Germany.[4] The Afghan rugs are mostly assembled in northern and western Afghanistan, by various ethnic groups but mainly by Turkmen.[1]

Afghan women from the western part of the country showing traditional Adraskan Afghan carpets.

One of the most exotic and distinctive of all oriental rugs is the Shindand or Adraskan (named after local Afghan towns), woven in the Herat Province, in western Afghanistan. Strangely elongated human and animal figures are their signature look. The carpet can be sold across Afghanistan with the most based in Mazar-e Sharif.

Another staple of Afghanistan is Baluchi rugs, most notably Baluchi prayer rugs. They are made by Afghanistan's Baloch people in the south-western part of the country.

Various vegetable and other natural dyes are used to produce the rich colors. The rugs are mostly of medium sizes. Many patterns and colors are used, but the traditional and most typical is that of the octagonal elephant's foot (Bukhara) print, often with a red background. The weavers also produce other trappings of the nomadic lifestyle, including tent bags and ceremonial pieces.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor 2014 report on child labor and forced labor, Afghanistan is one of the 74 countries listed to have registered significant child labor incidence in the manufacture of carpets.[5]

It has been reported that the majority of Afghan rugs during the war period were sent to Pakistan to be exported, where they were given the label "Made in Pakistan" when they were made in Afghanistan.[6]

The famous Bukhara pattern.

See also

References
  1. "Afghan carpet". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2014-01-16.
  2. "Afghans sell $1.7m carpets at Dubai conference". Pajhwok Afghan News. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 2014-01-16.
  3. Afghan rugs Archived April 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  4. "Afghanistan grabs carpet Oscar award". Pajhwok Afghan News. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 2014-01-16.
  5. List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor
  6. https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2019/0821/In-Afghanistan-weaving-ancient-industry-back-into-global-market
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