Rugs Reveal Afghanistan's Stories
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday September 11, 1996
TANKS rolled across the rocky, sun-scorched earth as fighter planes screamed their presence above. Anti-aircraft guns and missile launchers sent their deadly messages into the pale blue sky.
All was chaos.
But life went on as it does in times of war.
It did after the then Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1980.
The tanks and the planes and the guns were captured on film for the world to see. The images were also recorded by the weavers of Afghanistan who told the story in the rugs they made.
Shafi Ullah arrived here from his native Afghanistan a year ago and began importing and selling the rugs of his homeland.
His business, Afghan Crafts, has three outlets in Sydney, the latest at Manly Antiques Village, Pittwater Road, Manly. The others are Tansu-ya, Woollahra, and Flash Trash, Camperdown.
Sue Everitt, co-owner of Tansu-ya with Peter McEwen, became aware of Shafi's rugs when she saw one she wanted for herself at Flash Trash.
"We contacted Shafi and after seeing all his rugs decided to ask him to put some in our shop," she said. "They complement our Japanese chests beautifully."
To Shafi, the rugs have a special meaning.
"They're not only my business, I'm in love with them," he said. "If by selling them I can enhance the knowledge of people about Afghanistan, then I will be happy. Most tribal rugs have some meaning and I hope people will want to learn about them."
Prices of the rugs and other woven goods range from $175 to about $4,000. The pieces at Manly Antiques Village cost up to $1,400. They date from the mid-19th century to those made almost now. Most are about 50 years old.
The biggest rug is about 12 metres by 20 metres. The smallest pieces are square or rectangular coasters.
Shafi said that in the opinion of some researchers, the history of Afghanistan rug weaving began more than 2,000 years ago.
"It is very hard to know who was responsible for the first weaving," he said. "Afghanistan as a word came about in the 17th century. Rugs from the area were sent to Europe in the 11th century."
Woven goods were made mainly by two families of nomadic people; the Turkoman in the north-west and the Baluch in the south-west. There was common ground in the centre where both roamed.
There were sub-tribes within tribes, national borders were often nonexistent and spelling of names frequently differed. Not an easy history to research.
A sort of woven architecture and woven furniture grew from the nomadic culture. Woven bands were used to strengthen tents, and there were woven "doors" with shaped weavings inside framing the entrance.
Huge double saddlebags had a secondary use as cushions and they held many precious possessions. Single bags of various sizes held such things as water bottles, spindles, cooking utensils, salt, sugar and flour. There were cradles for babies, grain bags, curtains and harnesses for horses, donkeys and camels.
Shafi said 60 per cent of Turkoman rugs were made by women while the making of Baluch rugs was shared equally by men and women. Wool was the main fibre used.
Prayer rugs, the patterns of which were not symmetrical, were revered by those who made them and owned them. Shafi said they were full of symbolism - "somehow there is a meaning".
© 1996 Sydney Morning Herald