$720
Maimana is a market town in NW Afghanistan. It serves and is at the confluence of the valleys that go right up the Hindu Kush. This is the last, the extreme western edge of the range of mountains, Himalya, Pamir Hindu Kush.
The people are mostly Uzbek farmers with a few sheep which sets them apart from the Turkoman of the nearby drier climate steppes who specialise in sheep. The Uzbek make flat woven kelim and the Turkoman are famous for their red pile rugs. The Uzbek household is surrounded by high walls and there is a free standing platform under the trees in the garden that we’d call a deck on which tea and biscuits and lunch are served for most of the year. The kelims are mostly made for these decks. Inside the houses a light futon is a floor covering. The kitchen is seperate from the house and bedrooms.
The wool is handspun and dyed by the Uzbeks themselves. They use mostly vegetal sources and make sure there is no running dye so they can have food served and be regularly washed.
In stock
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Your rug will be shipped within 1-3 business days and should arrive within 3-5 business days from the ship date. Multiple items within the same order may not arrive together.
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The Afghan Maimana Kelim Rug comes from one of the most quietly authentic weaving regions of Central Asia. Maimana is a market town in north western Afghanistan, set at the confluence of valleys that rise steadily toward the Hindu Kush. This area marks the extreme western reach of the great mountain systems of the Himalaya, Pamir and Hindu Kush, a landscape where agriculture, craft and daily life remain closely connected to the land. The Afghan Maimana Kelim Rug is a direct product of this environment and the people who live within it.
Unlike the neighbouring Turkoman tribes of the dry steppes, who specialise in sheep herding and pile rugs, the people around Maimana are mostly Uzbek farmers. Sheep are kept in small numbers, enough to supply wool for household needs rather than large scale production. This difference shapes the textile tradition. The Uzbek people are renowned for their flat woven kelims, and the Afghan Maimana Kelim Rug reflects a domestic culture rooted in agriculture, gardens and communal family life.
Uzbek homes in this region are built around enclosed courtyards with high walls. Within the garden there is often a raised platform beneath the trees, a space we might call a deck, where tea, bread, biscuits and meals are shared for much of the year. The Afghan Maimana Kelim Rug is traditionally woven for this setting. It is laid out on the platform to create comfort, warmth and beauty, while remaining practical enough to be used daily. Inside the house, lighter floor coverings and futon style bedding are used, while kitchens are kept separate from sleeping spaces. This way of living informs the size, weight and durability of the kelims.
The wool used in an Afghan Maimana Kelim Rug is handspun by the Uzbek families themselves. Wool is prepared slowly, spun with care and dyed locally. The dyes are mostly vegetal, drawn from roots, leaves, bark and flowers gathered from the surrounding valleys. A crucial aspect of this tradition is the insistence on colour fastness. Because these kelims are used where food is served and where daily life unfolds, the dyers take great care to ensure there is no running dye. This allows the Afghan Maimana Kelim Rug to be washed regularly without fear, making it a true living textile rather than a decorative object.
The designs of the Afghan Maimana Kelim Rug are bold yet grounded. Large geometric forms dominate, often arranged in repeating bands or compartments. These patterns are not symbolic in a ceremonial sense but practical and familiar, passed from mother to daughter as part of everyday knowledge. The colours tend toward warm reds, soft blues, earthy browns, creams and occasional greens, all softened by natural dye processes. The overall effect is balanced and calm, with a strong sense of rhythm.
What makes the Afghan Maimana Kelim Rug especially appealing is its honesty. There is no attempt to impress a market or imitate another tradition. The weaving is done for use within the household and community. The weaver works with what she knows and what she needs. This gives the kelim a sense of integrity that collectors and designers value deeply today. It feels grounded, useful and sincere.
Historically, Maimana has been a trading centre where agricultural goods and textiles from the valleys meet. Kelims would be brought to market, exchanged, sold or gifted, but always within a regional economy that respected the value of handwork. The Afghan Maimana Kelim Rug therefore sits at the intersection of private domestic life and public exchange. It carries the marks of both.
In contrast to pile rugs, the flat weave structure of the Afghan Maimana Kelim Rug makes it lighter and more versatile. It can be folded, moved, washed and stored easily. This portability reflects the seasonal rhythms of life in the region, where outdoor living plays a central role for much of the year. The kelim is as much part of the architecture of daily life as the walls and trees that surround it.
At The Rug Shop, we value the Afghan Maimana Kelim Rug for its authenticity, durability and cultural clarity. These are rugs made without pretence, using handspun wool, vegetal dyes and techniques that have changed little over generations. They bring warmth, texture and a sense of lived history into any space.
An Afghan Maimana Kelim Rug is not simply a textile from a distant place. It is a reflection of a way of life shaped by mountains, gardens, family and careful making. It is a rug designed to be walked on, sat upon, shared over meals and washed again and again. In that sense, it remains exactly what it was always meant to be: a beautiful and practical companion to everyday life.
Can I get the same rug in a different size?
Each of our rugs is an individual, hand made work of art because of that it is not possible for us to have duplicates in different sizes.
How are your rugs made?
All of our rugs are 100% Handmade on a loom. We have created a close relationship with all of the craftspeople who make our rugs which allows us to get the highest quality rugs directly from the people who made them.
Are your rugs new/used?
We offer a variety of both new and used Persian rugs from many areas including Persia, Turkey, and Morocco see below for more info on locations.
NEW: We support over 30 families in Afghanistan who produce the highest quality Persian rugs.
OLD ANTIQUE VINTAGE: We source our used rugs from village and tribal families at source. As well as attend worldwide auctions. We have formed relationships with Persian rug collectors that allow us to get incredible pieces that are not normally on the market.
Can I try before i buy?
We have a “try before you buy” system for approved customers.
Where are your rugs from?
Afghanistan, Persia, Pakistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Morocco etc.
