Inventory Reduction Sale

The destruction of Nigel Lendon’s best rugs in a flood in NSW Australia, has given a shock to Warrug. To see some of the very best rugs reduced to a bloody mess, has realigned my priorities. Rather than hold on to the rugs, it is better to get them into the world. Rather than keeping an excellent group of beautiful rugs in a few centralized locations, my goal is distribute them widely. Towards this goal, gifts to museums and institutions are underway. If you want a rug, now is the time. If you want a bunch of rugs, now really is the time. Contact me with questions and proposals.

The Drone and UXO rugs were made in Afghanistan, so getting more is currently impossible. The vintage War Rugs though are all marked down around 40%. Never in Warrug.com’s 25 years has there been a sale like this.

Subtle weapons rugs from the Herat Area discounted 40%.

Afghan war rugs with obvious weapons, also mostly from the Herat and Farah provinces, also discounted 40%.

Pictorial war rugs with landscapes and figures, discounted 40%.

Red rugs, like the first one that introduced me to this wonderful art, also heavily discounted.

Incredible Otto Dix Print at Sotheby’s

This grim image reminds me of Guston’s piles of rocks.  The hard drawing of the gun contrasts with the soft mortality of the humans.  3,800 Euro with 15 hours until auction closes.

Otto Dix

1891-1969

Die Barrikade (from Tod und Auferstehung)

signed in pencil, dated and inscribed

etching on wove paper

plate: 274 by 345 mm. 10¾ by 13⅝ in.

sheet: 432 by 500 mm. 17 by 19¾ in.

Executed in 1922; this impression is a trial proof aside from the edition of 50,
published by Otto Dix.

Recent Warrug Press Coverage

Quartz wrote about my history with collecting Afghanistan war rugs and the rise in popularity of drone images. Check it out here. It includes the Red, White, and Blue Drone Rug, the Predator Drone RugRed Rug 13Abstract WTC 9/11 Afghan War Rug #2Bomber Helicopter Style War Rugthe Beautiful Afghan Province Map Rug, and the WTC rug all of which can be explored in detail on Warrug.com.

NPR and The World also did a couple write ups on the subject. It’s nice to see War Rugs getting some interest in the public sphere.

Iran Map Showing Provinces, Landmarks, and Flags

Here is a map rug reminiscent of the early Iraq maps especially this great beauty of a silk iraq rug (more info about province rugs like these Iraq rugs or these Iraq rugs from 2003 or these map rugs with and without provinces), but this rug is apparently Iranian. It shows Iran with its provinces outlined and colored like the Iraq rugs (and Afghan map rugs). The oil wells in Iraq are a nice touch. If only Nigel Lendon were here to discuss this.

A friend is selling this rug so contact Warrug for the details.

1980’s Washed Pixelated Weapons War Rug

Creating juxtaposition by using tanks, grenades and helicopters next to floral designs makes this War Rug from the 1980’s a very unique, special item. The colors used, light pink and beige, make the rug feel calm yet it carries a message that is deep and creates a long-lasting image and detail that does not tire to look at.

1980's Washed Pixilated Weapons War RugThe figures and motifs are pixelated and stylized. The different rows of weapons are separated by jagged lines. The border is made up of alternating tanks, rifles, and helicopters. The flowery guard stripe on the left side of the rug appears to be stretched compared to the stripe on the right. This rug can be found on warrug.com.

1980’s War Rug with Russian Soldiers

A blue, orange, red and green incentive motif featuring Russian soldiers, helicopters, jets and tanks rug which was completed in the 1980’s and is incredible unique is available on warrug.com.

1980's War Rug with Russian Soldiers

The pattern creates a war scene with all of the tools and people needed to defend a base. Bright saturated colors on a dark rich blue field, the guard stripes are made of interlocking geometric brown, green, and red shapes separated from the main borders by white ‘sawtooth’ patterns. The kilim has an interesting blue pattern.

180's War Rug with Russian Soldiers

It is 48 x 96 inches (123 X245 cm), uses wool and was made in Afghanistan.

1980’s Dark Blue Floral Medallion with Weft Substitution Skirt Bands

This rug was created in the 1980’s in Afghanistan. Although it has been some time since it was created it is in perfect shape and features traditional end finishes, the drawing, and the traditional design suggest this is of the earliest war rugs. Dark Blue Floral Medallion

The intricate design is special, it features vague floral medallions and transcendent color combinations create a pattern that is beautiful to digest and never ends out of details to examine closely.

1980's medallian rug  There is a closer look at some of the intense detail in this rug.

1980’s Rare, Early, Bomber Border with MiGs Price on Request

Made in the 1980’s, this rug features all kinds of modes of transportation including helicopters, jets, ships and trucks. The rug reminds me of traffic and having a clear direction.
War Motifs

An interesting colorful mosaic of weapons, jets, helicopters, grenades, and other war motifs. Border is very similar to the imagery in the field, but separated by a brown guard stripe. The design of the fighter jets in the center is unusual and unique for this rug. The way that the trucks are stacked in the border is also unusual. The rectangular shapes in the helicopters is very realistic. This all suggests that this is an early rug. It is available at warrug.com.