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

A Herat Mushwani kilim of rare blush-pink ground — the Mushwani compound technique raising diamond medallions from the surface in a piece of unusual palette and considerable tactile character.
The Mushwani are a Turkmen-descended tribe settled south of Herat near Shindand, and their kilims are unlike anything else produced in the Afghan flat-weave tradition. The technique — which lays a flat kilim ground first, then knots a short pile directly onto select motifs — is considered among the most technically demanding of all Afghan weaving forms, and the result is a surface you can feel as much as see: the diamond and chevron medallions literally rising from the ground in three-dimensional relief. What makes this particular piece exceptional is its ground colour: a soft blush-pink that places it at a significant remove from the reds and darks of most Herat tribal production. Woven entirely in wool, the raised forms carry olive green and deeper magenta-pink, the palette warm and unusual, as comfortable in a contemporary interior as in a traditional one. The Mushwani have been weaving this compound form for generations; the difficulty of the technique means it is practised by relatively few weavers.
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.