Hazara Kilim 4 foot 5 inch by 10 foot 3 inch

Hazara Kilim

Size: 4 foot 5 inch by 10 foot 3 inch.

This is a marvelous example of the indigenous woven art of the Hazara. I collected this piece shortly after the fall of Mazar-i-Shariff to the Taliban.

Hazara flatweaves are rare. High in the Central Highlands of Afghanistan in the steep sided valleys of the Hindu Kush Mountains live the Hazara. Scratching out an existence there since the 13th century the Hazara use covers like this as covers, rugs, and simply to survive. I suspect that this piece is from the heart of the Hazarajat.

Please see The Hazara A Historical Examination Of The Probable Origins Of An Improbable People

Color is difficult over the internet, please use the Direct Scan below for the best representation of color in this rug

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Hazara Carpet, North Central Afghanistan.

Size: 4 foot 5 inch by 10 foot 3 inch.

Structure: Dovetail (single interlock) tapestry with slit tapestry.

Yarn Spin: Z.

Warp: 2 ply brown wool.

Weft: 2 shot brown wool.

Ends: Overhand knots with 4 inch warp fringe (top); heavy crossed wefts with 2 inch warp fringe (bottom).

Selvages: 2 cord interlaced brown and red wool.

Handle: Durable, medium.

Further Notes: Good condition, loss of some fringe, repairs made no larger than a quarter, except 4 inch by 5 inch section in corner has been replaced from another rug.

This is the Quintessential Hazara Kilim!

I am basing my attribution on a number of factors but primarily four:

An important clue is the use of slit tapestry with dovetail tapestry.
The border is a classical Hazara border.
The color palette is appropriate to a Hazara Kilim.
The wool is consistent with Hazaragi sheep.

The Hazara people are descended from the camp women of Genghis Khan's great camp the "yeke a'uruy". They have lived in the Hazarajat in what is currently called Afghanistan since 1221 AD.