Fine handmade Afghan Kazak carpet

This Afghan carpet displays the perfect balance of warm colours and a contrasting light field colour. It contains a multitude of additional detail shades too, these feature blue, navy blue, orange, salmon and dark brown. 

This design would look good in a traditional setting, it shows a captivating geometric theme laid against a beige field whilst the rust-red border also shows off a meandering geometric pattern.

Learn more about this fine handmade Afghan Kazak carpet

The appealing design of this handmade Afghan carpet draws inspiration from antique rugs that were woven in the Caucasus, modern-day Armenia and Azerbaijan. These rugs were remarkable for their strong geometric patterns and vivid colours. 

The Afghan Kazak production developed in the 1980s in the Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; by recreating the enchanting design vocabulary of the famous style of antique rugs for export to the West. Nowadays, the Afghan Kazak rug production has returned to Afghanistan where it is carried out by Hazara weavers in the vicinity of Kabul. 

Find out what this Afghan carpet is made from

This fine Afghan Kazak carpet is notable for the materials that it is made from. Like many Oriental rugs, this carpet was made from wool and cotton.  

The wool part of this carpet is the pile. This is where the beauty of the carpet lies: the exquisite colours and interesting patterns that give you pleasure everyday. It's tactical too, it softens the room and offers comfort underfoot. The woollen pile in this Afghan carpet is especially pleasing because it is naturally dyed and hand-spun. The fact that the wool is hand-spun means that it is a stronger fibre because the yarn can be twisted tighter (than a machine spun wool).

The cotton element of this rug isn't immediately apparent, although it plays a vital role. Cotton was used for the warp threads. These are the long strings of cotton that were attached to the loom before the weaving could start. They are what the knots are tied onto. You can see the warp threads at each end of the carpet, as they are also the fringes of the rug. On a handmade rug the fringes are an integral part of the rug - amazingly, each tassel that you see will emerge at the other end of the rug. 

How was this Kazak carpet handmade?

This Afghan carpet was handcrafted by time-honoured weaving techniques that have been tried and trusted for generations. It was made by hand-knotting the woollen pile. This is a time-consuming method, but is a way that is yet to be surpassed for the quality of the finished article. 

Every tuft of pile is formed from a hand-tied knot. Each knot is created by a weaver tying coloured woollen yarn onto pairs of warp threads. The knots are tied in lines across the width of the carpet. This is followed by a number of weft threads that are woven between the warps and are sandwiched against the row of knots. This process is repeated over and over. The cumulative different coloured knots collaborate to make the colours and patterns of the carpet. 

It is quite staggering to think that this carpet has hundreds of thousands of knots contained within it. You cannot help but be in awe of the weavers skill and dedication.

In a world of mass produced plastic rubbish, how nice would it be to own something so special?

Where can I use this handmade carpet in my home?

The joy of Oriental rugs is that they are so hard wearing. This fine Afghan Kazak carpet is tightly woven and made from just hardy natural fibres: wool and cotton. Two materials that are widely known for their longevity. 

The size of this Afghan carpet makes it a great option for use in a living room between sofas. It'll offer a warm but light ambiance, whilst feeling velvety under your feet. Furthermore, it is a rug that you'll enjoy looking at!

It's practical too, because of it's durability you could even consider using it in an entrance hall.

Key details: 

• Country of origin: Afghanistan
• Size: 234×173cm / 7’8″x5’8″
• Thickness: 6mm
• Pile: Wool, hand-knotted
• Warp: Cotton
• Age: New