Afghan Kazakh Runner

This rug is hand-knotted in northern Afghanistan in the Kazakh weaving tradition, which originated in the Caucasus mountains and has been carried by Kazakh weavers into Afghan rug making over generations. The designs are bold and geometric, large medallions, hooked polygons, stylised animals and tribal symbols arranged with strong borders and a confident symmetry that is immediately recognisable. The wool is machine-spun local Afghan wool on a cotton foundation. Machine-spun wool produces a more consistent pile than hand-spun, with a cleaner, more even surface and a slightly sharper definition of the geometric designs. The construction is durable and built for daily use. As with all hand-knotted rugs, slight variations in the weave are a natural result of the process and part of what makes each piece its own.