Afghani Carpets

Afghanistan is situated in the south of Asia, adjoining Iran and Turkmenistan to the west, Uzbekistan and Tadzjikistan in the north together with Pakistan and China in the east. Two of the most popular carpets from Afghanistan are Khal Mohammadi and Afghan Aqche. Khal Mohammadi are handmade by the Turkomans in the north of Afghanistan, and in some cases they can also be hand-knotted in Pakistan by the Turkomans who have crossed over the borders into Pakistan. The primary colours are dark red in different nuances. Occurring motifs are göls (elephant like pattern) and octagonal (eight shaped) often with curvilinear flowers in dark blue, ochre and beige. Afghan Aqche carpets are handmade by the Turkomans in central and north Afghanistan. Pile, warp and weft consists of wool, goat and sometimes also horse hair.

Technical information Khal Mohammadi:

Pile: wool Warp: wool
Knot: symmetrical
Knot density: 150 000 – 230 000
knots per square metre Sizes: from 100×150 to 250×350 cm, 80×120 to 80×400 cm

Some examples of Afghani carpets: