Firuz Mushwani One-OF-A-Kind-Afghan Rug

A Herat Mushwani kilim of warm salmon-coral ground with nested diamond forms — the tribe's compound weaving technique giving each motif a physical presence that flat-weave alone cannot achieve.
South of Herat, near Shindand, the Mushwani tribe weaves a kilim that the broader Afghan flat-weave tradition has never quite replicated. The process begins as any kilim does — warp and weft interlocked in the slit-woven tapestry manner — but then departs from it entirely: the weaver knots a short pile onto the principal geometric motifs, raising them from the surface and giving the design a dimensional character more usually associated with knotted pile carpets. On the warm salmon-coral ground of this piece, the nested diamond forms in olive green, madder red, and deep blue carry that relief, each one asserting itself slightly above the field that surrounds it. The palette occupies an unusual territory — warmer than the traditional Afghan earth tones, lighter than the deep reds of the Turkmen carpet tradition — and it carries the piece naturally into a range of contemporary interiors. Woven wholly in wool.
A hand-knotted & woven rug is an investment piece. With proper care it will last a lifetime and become a cherished heirloom. Each knot in this collection is tied by hand by nomadic tribesmen, making every piece entirely one of a kind.
Variations in colour and tone — known as abrash — are a hallmark of authentic handmade rugs, particularly tribal and vintage pieces. Wear and age only add to their beauty.