Vintage Afghan War Rug: Hand-Knotted Wool Cityscape Map

Hand-knotted by Baluch weavers of northwest Afghanistan, this evocative war rug renders a stylized cityscape/map in jewel tones—madder red, deep navy, bottle-green, violet and a distinctive sunflower-gold. It’s a compact collectible with strong graphic presence, perfect as wall art or a small accent rug, and an authentic piece of textile history.

Weaving tradition & structure

This piece is from the Baluch/Afghan pictorial “war rug” tradition (Herat–Shindand/Andkhoy area).

Knotting is asymmetrical (open-left) on a cotton warp with wool wefts—typical for late-20th-century Afghan village looms.

Double-wefted, with robust dark over-cast selvedges and short ivory fringe; the handle is dense yet pliable.

Design & cultural context

The field is divided into stacked registers: gridded “buildings,” arcaded bands, and a prominent golden “road/river” flanked by blocks—classic map/city vocabulary seen in Afghan war rugs of the 1980s–90s.

Small rosette tiles and stepped panels act as protective talismanic motifs among the architecture.

Main border shows a meandering hooked-leaf/chevron pattern with flower guards—tribal geometry that frames the pictorial narrative.

The composition reads like a memory map: everyday landscape filtered through a weaver’s eye during years of conflict—part documentary, part amulet.

Age & condition

Dating: c. 1990s (late 20th century), supported by palette, cotton foundation, and war-map iconography.

Condition: Excellent vintage—full, even pile (approx. 6–7 mm), edges and ends secure, minor natural abrash (tone shift in hand-dyed wool) that adds character. No visible repairs or holes in the provided images.

Materials & feel

Pile: high-land sheep’s wool—springy with a soft, matte lustre.

Foundation: cotton warps, wool wefts. Dyes present as a mix of traditional and stable modern dyes typical of the era.

Features:

Origin: Northwest Afghanistan, Baluch weaving communities (Herat/Shindand region)

Type: Hand-knotted pictorial “war rug” / cityscape

Size: 103 x 79 cm (approx. 3’5” x 2’7”)

Knotting: Asymmetrical (open-left), ~90–110 KPSI (≈140–170 knots/dm²), medium density

Pile height: ~6–7 mm (medium)

Foundation: Cotton warps, wool wefts; wool pile

Weave time (est.): ~4–6 weeks of loom time for a single artisan at this density and size

Condition: Excellent vintage; subtle abrash; fringes trimmed and secure; no obvious stains or repairs shown

Authentic Afghan war-map iconography—grids, stepped panels, arcades and “roads” in sunflower-gold and indigo.

Vivid yet earthy palette that reads beautifully in both daylight and warm lamplight.

Versatile small size for gallery hanging, entryways, studios, and layered Boho/tribal interiors.

Durable village construction with strong selvedges and compact, resilient wool pile.

Care instructions

Vacuum with suction only (no beater bar).

Rotate every few months for even wear and light exposure.

Blot spills immediately; spot clean with a small amount of cool water and wool-safe soap.

For a deep clean, request a hand-wash by a rug professional—avoid steam or harsh chemicals.

Use a natural-rubber pad if placing on hard floors.


Bring home a striking slice of textile history—crafted by hand, rich with story, and sized to fit anywhere. If you’d like, I can add a hanging sleeve or include a custom pad to make installation effortless.