AFGHANISTAN TEXTILES

Selection of Afghanistan Textiles
from the Dr. and Mrs. William T. Price Permanent Collection Gifts

The Amarillo Museum of Art is pleased to show a survey exhibition of forty 19th and 20th Centuries textiles from Afghanistan.  This wonderful collection was gifted to the Museum by Dr. and Mrs. William T. Price.  This exhibition showcases Afghanistan prayer rugs, ceremonial mats, kilims, saddle blankets and horse covers.  These textiles are remarkable in their craftsmanship, evidenced by patterns that are complex and intricate.   The exhibition also provides viewers with critical contextual information about the various, distinct cultures that shaped these works, the significance of the textiles to the people who owned them, as well as their importance as art historical treasures.

Dr. Price, a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, attended the University of Alabama and Columbia University.  After finishing medical school, he settled in Amarillo, Texas, where he has practiced and made his home.  He and the Price family have been ardent supporters of the Amarillo Museum of Art.  Dr. Price served and lived in Korea and Japan for several years, thus beginning his lifelong passion for the arts of Asia and Southeast Asia.  He and Mrs. Price have traveled the world in search of treasures to add to their collection.  Their interest has resulted in important collections of textiles, sculptures, woodblock prints, pottery, and paintings from the Orient.  From the very beginning, the Prices saw the need to share their collections with the public; they have considered exhibitions an important part of their commitment to education and collecting.


Colors of the Crossroads: Textiles of Afghanistan

The traditional textiles of Afghanistan reflect the diverse nature of the country itself. Bordered by Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, this landlocked nation has long been a cultural crossroad and a political battleground. Centuries of invasions and migrations into the area have produced Afghanistan’s great ethnic variety, as well as its troubled history. Today, Afghanistan is populated by approximately 26 million people that belong to over 20 different ethnic groups, each with their own language, customs, and traditions. Major groups include the Tajik, Uzbek, and Turkmen of the northern part of the country; the Hazara, who occupy the mountainous central area; and the Baluchi of southwestern Afghanistan. The Pashtun, the country’s largest ethnic group, inhabit the southeastern and eastern areas. Many of these groups also occupy parts of neighboring countries.

The designs, materials, and techniques of the traditional textiles of Afghanistan display these varying ethnic and regional influences, creating a mixture of Middle Eastern and Central Asian styles that are further combined with those of the Indian subcontinent. Clothing and household furnishings feature vibrant silk and cotton fabrics, wool woven into intricate patterns, and lavish embroidery. Even utilitarian items like grain bags and animal trappings may be beautifully decorated, creating liveliness in often harsh environments.

Most people of Afghanistan are Muslim, and their traditional garments are of Islamic type. Women wear a tunic or high-waist dress over loose trousers, and they usually cover their heads with a scarf or a large cloth. Some women wear tent-like garments, or burqa, that cover their bodies from head to foot. Men also wear a long tunic over loose pants and cover their heads with a cap or turban. A variety of vests, coats, and cloaks are also worn by both men and women.

© 2003 Text by Mary French, Museum of Anthropology, University of Missouri


Cover image:

1998.11.019
ANONYMOUS
Prayer Rug, Early 20th c.
Wool on wool, 5'3" x 3'2 1/2"
Afghanistan
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. William T. Price


Text images:

1995.10.098
ANONYMOUS
Rug: Ceremonial Afghan mat, 19th c.
Wool, 38" x 38"
Afghanistan
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. William T. Price

1998.11.009
ANONYMOUS
Prayer Rug, n.d.
Wool pile on wool, 4'1" x 2'9"
Afghanistan
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. William T. Price

1998.11.020
ANONYMOUS
Flat weave Rug, Mid 20th c.
Wool on Wool, aniline dye, 4'7" x 3'8"
Afghanistan
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. William T. Price