Max Allen has written with a link to an auction benefiting the Textile Museum of Canada featuring exclusively war rugs. The action is being held by Ritchies.
A significant historic building in Kabul is the Mosque of the King of Two Swords [lots 41, 43, 44]. Brandishing a sword in each hand, the legendary Islamic warrior Layth bin Qays bin Abbas, whose grandfather was an uncle of the prophet Muhammad, led a battle against the infidel Hindu forces (hence the elephants in lot 43) who were protecting Kabul’s holiest Hindu temple. The Mosque of the King of Two Swords today occupies the site of the Hindu temple. Originally dedicated in 1544, restored by King Amanullah’s mother in 1920, largely destroyed in the 1980s during the post-Soviet civil war, it has once again been beautifully reconstructed.
Ritchies database is a very nice complement to the The Textile Museum of Canada’s database.
Above and below are Al Kwaja Rugs.
Here’s the warrug.com index of Al Kwaja rugs.
Above is a 1980’s , Rows of Weapons Design, like rug #915
My book features two rugs of the design above, one with the Farsi words for Amu Daria and peacock, and one featuring the Kaaba.
The rug above is the clearest example of this image. It is also the best clue yet as to what these rugs are depicting?
If you are interested in bidding, register now.