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Afghan War Rugs: The Modern Art of Central Asia

Open -
South Dakota Art Museum
Sun: 12:00 pm-4:00 pm
Mon - Fri: 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Sat: 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Co-curated by Dr. Annemarie Sawkins and Enrico Mascelloni, "Afghan War Rugs: The Modern Art of Central Asia" brings to the United States one of the most distinct collections of Afghan war rugs in the world. War rugs are a unique product of Afghanistan and its rich, albeit bellicose, history. Weavers abandoned traditional nonfigurative styles and revolutionized an ancient craft, producing knotted rugs with rich pictorial images of maps, weapons and portraits of kings, khans and military leaders.

Rug with Geisha

Rug with Geisha

Knotted wool, Western Afghanistan or Southeastern Iran (Sistan),
Acquired in Herat (Afghanistan), 1998

War Rug with Map of Afghanistan

War Rug with Map of Afghanistan

Knotted wool, Baghlan (Afghanistan),
Acquired in Peshawar (Pakistan), 1998

World Map Rug

World Map Rug

Knotted wool, Afghanistan;
Acquired in Peshawar (Pakistan), 1993

Portrait Rug (Amanullah Khan)

Portrait Rug (Amanullah Khan)

Knotted wool, Afghanistan;
Acquired in Peshawar (Pakistan), 1985

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