Item Description
Carpets from Afghanistan were originally, for the most part, variations on a single theme: numerous shades of red with predominantly black or bright blue motifs. The motifs were very simple, yet appealing to those with an eye for the art of carpet knotting. This versatile piece can be used either as a floor rug or displayed as a wall tapestry. Around the middle of the 20th century, the so-called “antique wash” became a success story. The colours of the carpets could be completely transformed through a chemical treatment, gaining a lustre previously unseen. For Afghanistan, this meant a turning point. The red carpets turned bronze — a shade that could only be achieved on finished pieces that had subsequently undergone this chemical rinse. However, this fashion trend was short-lived. Only around the turn of the millennium did the demands of the global market create a new momentum. Afghanistan opened itself up to more modern designs and adopted a much broader colour palette, both for kilims and for knotted carpets. Alongside the old tradition, entirely new concepts emerged.
