Afghanistan

AFGHANISTAN

BELOUCHI 

Our Belouchi rugs are a mix of Persian and Afghan tribal production. Their goods are traditionally sold in the spectacular cities of Maschad Iran, Herat, Afghanistan and Quetta, Pakistan. We have a friendly Haji in Lahore whose sons travel through the dangerous Belouchi tribal areas collecting old rugs to sell. Hence, most of the pieces we sell can be quite old with the lovely patina that age brings to these pieces. Most rugs are prayer rugs oriented in one direction to be pointed to Mecca. They are up to 5 x 3 and 6 x 4 in size and are great value for money. They are generally woven with a wool pile on a woolen warp. The selvedges are finished using goats wool which is meant to deter snakes entering the tent or hut. Occasionally war rugs depicting tanks, guns and other military vehicles can be found. 

The Beloucji tribes people are also weaving a new more modern take on rugs to compete with the very colourful kazaks.

FLAT WEAVE KELIMS 

Due to the current unrest in Afghanistan, we have been making most of our current purchases of these goods in Pakistan. We have been dealing with this excellent Lahore producer and agent for over 40 years as he was a very significant supplier to Harrods of Knightsbridge where Canadian Rug Trader co-owner Angus McCulloch started to learn about the beauty of hand made rugs. These all wool kelims are fully sowed together, i.e. no gaps, hand woven using hand spun wool and natural dyes. A very inexpensive and hardwearing carpet for all areas of homes and cottages. 

KHAL MOHAMMADI

Khal Mohammadi was a Master Dyer in the city of Kabul in Afghanistan around 150 years ago. He started to commission a much higher grade of Afghan carpet using traditional, though more unusual tribal designs. The workshop was eventually taken over by his family after his death and continued in production until World War 2, when the ravages of this time ceased the weaving of these remarkable quality rugs. This means true Khal Mohammadi rugs should be over 50 years old. We currently buy these pieces in the bazaar of Peshawar in Pakistan, as the refugees from the current conflict in Afghanistan bring out with them some of these wonderful examples of the weaver and dyers art. However, we also believe there is new production of these rugs mixed in with the older pieces at the bazaar.