21917- Khal Mohammad Afghan Hand-Knotted Authentic/Traditional/Rug/Size: 9'0" x 2'1"/274cm x 64cm

Introduction

Khal Mohammed pieces are warm and welcoming. They are characterized by their neat appearance, decorative nature, dark-red or coppery-brown field, and their flat-woven/kilim-like finish on each end. As such, they are often sub-divided into two main categories; Kunduz Khal Mohammeds and Belgique Khal Mohammeds. The former, obviously, is a Made-In-Afghanistan product using Afghan raw materials. The ladder, on the other hand, is not produced in Belgium as the name may have suggested. Belgique Khal Mohammeds are probably hand-crafted in the same workshops by the same knotters who also produce Kunduz Khal Mohammeds. The difference, however, is that Belgique Khal Mohammeds are crafted using supreme-quality wool, cotton, and sometimes silk, imported from Belgium.

Description

Besides being Afghanistan's best produces, Khal Mohammed pieces and Chobi Ziegler works, have one more thing in common; their out-of-ordinary names. Interestingly, both of these Afghan powerhouses, are named after individuals, rather than villages or tribes. Khal Mohammed, specifically, is named after a Turkoman-Afghan legendary designer and master knotter with the same name. Born and raised in the city of Konduz, the capital of the Konduz province of Afghanistan, Master Khal Mohammed was known for his unique creations. Occurring motifs in these Middle Eastern souvenirs consist of multiple variations of the infamous elephant-foot pattern. The octagonal-shaped Central Asian signature-design is often accompanied with curvilinear flowers in navy-blue or raven-black colours.

Interestingly, there have always been some confusions with respect to the origin of Khal Mohammeds. Some experts claim that Khal Mohammed is an Ersari-Turkoman living in Northern Afghanistan, who for the past 30 years, has engineered the structural quality and color tones these rugs share. Other experts believe that Khal Mohammed was a professional dyer that lived in Northern Afghanistan around 150 years ago, who provided the unique color palette these rugs possess. There are also rumors that the name Khal Mohammed never belonged to a real-life figure, rather, the name was given to a group of carpets that have been always produced by the Ersari Turkoman nomads of Northern Afghanistan.

Price Range and Value

Generally, Khal Mohammeds are in the same price range as Shirvans, Kazaks, and Chobi Zieglers. Their larger pieces start from 10' in length, and 6' in width, for the price of $ 2000, and they go all the way to 12' in length, and 8' in width, for the price of $ 10000.