Afshar Tribal Rugs
Filed Under Afshar Tribal Rugs, Antique Persian Rugs, Persian Rugs History, Persian Rugs Materials, Persian Tribal Rugs |
Afshar tribal rugs are something of a mystery. Their origins are highly debated, going back to the 17th and 18th centuries. During the past decades, a small group of rugs have appeared in Pakistani bazaars that harken back to these mysterious Afshar rugs. Although they fit in with the general family of Antique Persian Rugs, they are quite a bit different from the rest of the pack.
Because of the problems inherent in tracing the history of these rugs, they present significant problems for collectors. These rugs have not been well studied and so we do not have an answer to what the features that signify an Afshar rug are.
One key element appears to be a fully saturated palette of reds and greens. The reds are used in the background, and the greens as floral motifs. They may also be used to symbolize bird and animal heads, with red echoes elsewhere in the rug. But the floral elements, vases, and animals may be significantly transformed from what would have been seen 100 or 200 years ago, suggesting that much has happened in their development since.
The Afshar rug appears to also use the 2-1-2 medallion layout, but usually the medallions are quartered rather than complete. Vase elements, portrayed in a stylized manner are also prominent, as are blossom borders. It is difficult to locate the Afshar elements with authority because the adoption of the language Farsi in Iran by the Afshar seems to be linked to a general loss of tribal identity and cultural arts. This has actually affected all Persian Tribal Rugs, but the Afshar variety has felt it the most.
Elements that were associated with older weavings are muted or transmuted, and integrated with the forms of other tribes and cultures. Scholars are attempting to unravel these mysteries by carefully noting and tracing specific elements at a high level of detail. Using ancient texts and prototypical rugs from museums and other institutions of cultural heritage, they are trying to pick out and trace the individual elements through lands and languages.
But for now, where do these Afshar rugs that are popping up in Pakistani bazaars belong? Should they be counted as true Persian Rugs? We do not know. It seems likely that they will eventually be understood-their distinctive palette of color and symbol is too outstanding to mystify for long. And once understood, these rugs may reveal the history of persia, a map of influences and change over centuries.
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