Afghan Mashwani Rug tribal decor tactile pile and the raw

tactile pile and the raw

the colours have already settled into themselves and the pile has developed a character that only time and use together produce

woven by nomadic and semi-nomadic weavers who have maintained their craft across generations

They typically feature a central medallion surrounded by geometric motifs

Afghan Mashwani Rug tribal decor tactile pile and the rawThe Mashwani are a semi nomadic Pashtun tribe from the Herat region of western Afghanistan, and they are the only Pashtun tribe known for weaving pile rugs. What makes their rugs structurally unique is the construction, a combination of flatweave kilim and hand knotted pile worked together in the same piece, producing a surface that is embossed and dimensional, with design elements that sit raised against the flatwoven field. These rugs were