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Afghan Aqua Ziegler

Hand‑knotted Afghan Ziegler rug crafted from hand‑spun wool and natural dyes, featuring refined floral motifs, exceptional durability, and timeless elegance suited to any sophisticated interior.

Price

£375

Origin

Afghanistan

Circa

2010

Dimensions

1.56m × 1.02m (5′ 1″ × 3′ 4″)

Material

Ghazni wool with a cotton warp and cotton weft using the Turkish knot and natural vegetable dyes.

Condition

Perfect

Provenance

Commissioned by Aga Woven Art

Composition

Ghazni wool is a type of wool sourced from sheep in the Ghazni province of Afghanistan, renowned for its natural strength, resilience, and soft, oily texture. This wool is particularly prized for its use in hand-spun, hand-knotted rugs and carpets, where it contributes to the durability, velvety texture, and rich, natural colours of the finished products, due to its ability to absorb colours well.

Description

Hand‑knotted in Afghanistan, this rug is part of the celebrated Ziegler tradition, renowned for its vibrant colours and timeless elegance. Woven with high‑quality hand‑spun wool and dyed using natural vegetable dyes.

The Ziegler name references the 19th‑century Swiss‑British firm that originally commissioned such designs for the Western market, combining classic Persian motifs with a softer, more open layout.

These Afghan interpretations are hand‑knotted using the Turkish (symmetrical) knot, producing a durable yet supple pile with excellent definition in the design. Common patterns feature elegant floral vines, palmettes, and scrolling tendrils in a balanced, airy composition that sits comfortably in both traditional and contemporary interiors.

Afghan Ziegler rugs are prized for their versatility, sophistication, and easy compatibility with a wide range of décor styles: a perfect choice for those seeking both craftsmanship and beauty.

In addition, this rug has been dyed with vegetable dyes (also known as natural dyes) are colorants derived from plants, roots, bark, leaves, fruits, and other organic materials, used to dye textiles, including wool in rugs.

They have been used for hundreds of years and are valued for their rich, earthy tones, colorfastness, and environmental sustainability.

Mordanting

  • Before dyeing, wool is usually soaked in a mordant (like alum, iron, or copper salts) to help the dye chemically bond to the fibre.

  • Mordants also affect the final colour as iron darkens, alum brightens, copper can shift toward green.

Dyeing Process

  • The dyed fibre is simmered or soaked in the plant extract in a big pot of boiling mountain or river sourced water

  • Multiple dips may be needed for deeper hues.

The yarn is then rinsed, dried, and sun-exposed to solidify the colour.

Lastly, this rug has been woven using the Turkish knot, also known as the symmetrical knot or Ghiordes knot. In this traditional technique, the yarn is looped around two warp threads and pulled tight, creating a secure, balanced knot. This results in a durable, evenly textured pile that wears well over time and helps maintain the rug’s crisp design details. The Turkish knot is a hallmark of many high‑quality Anatolian, Caucasian, and tribal rugs and certain fine Persian rugs i.e Tabriz.

Stylized illustration of a hand holding a cannabis leaf.

Size

1.56m × 1.02m
(5′ 1″ × 3′ 4″)

Region

Afghanistan

Provenance

Material

Ghazni wool with cotton warp & cotton weft

Condition

Perfect

Commissioned by Aga Woven Art

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Interested in this piece?

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