Ivoryn Sarkhati One-OF-A-Kind-Afghan Rug

An extraordinary vintage Herat Turkmen carpet — woven at 324 knots per square inch, approximately 30 years old — its amber field alive with a full figurative hunting scene of museum quality.
There are Afghan carpets that function as floor coverings. And then there are pieces like this. At 324 knots per square inch — nearly three times the standard of Afghan production, and a density that places this carpet in the company of the finest Persian workshop output — the Sarkhati demands months of continuous work from a single weaver. What that weaver chose to put into it here is a full figurative hunting scene: mounted horsemen in pursuit, leaping deer and gazelle, birds in flight, and stylised trees, all rendered across an amber-gold field in deep teal, crimson, ivory, and brown with the individual particularity that only this density allows. The paradise garden and the hunt are among the oldest narrative subjects in Islamic textile art. This piece, now approximately thirty years old, has developed the mellowed palette and softened luminosity that only natural dye and time produce together. It will not be encountered twice.
A hand-knotted 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.