{"product_id":"vintage-afghan-zahir-shah-rug-c-1970","title":"Vintage Afghan Zahir Shah Rug c. 1970","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe History \u0026amp; Provenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eZahir Shah\u003c\/em\u003e rugs were originally commissioned by the former king of Afghanistan, \u003cem\u003eZahir Shah\u003c\/em\u003e, who wanted to introduce a new style of rug into the market. Unfortunately, these rugs are no longer being produced as they were only produced for a short while between the 1950s and 1973, when the king was deposed and decades of war followed. They were also not present in the market for long enough to be widespread, and so mostly older pieces remain from the 1960s and 70s. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCraftsmanship \u0026amp; Texture\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo distinguish from traditional Afghan rugs which are often a deep red, \u003cem\u003eZahir Shah\u003c\/em\u003e rugs usually consist of muted beige and burgundy colours and are constructed with higher quality wool with a denser knot. These rugs were one of the first to feature decorative fringe finishes where the end warps are bunched and wrapped with colourful yarns, which is now found in many other rug designs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMotif \u0026amp; Design Symbolism\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hallmark of \u003cem\u003eZahir Shah\u003c\/em\u003e rugs are orderly, geometric, all-over repeating pattern. Rather than utilizing one massive central medallion, the field is organised into tight, vertical columns or rows of small, interlocking diamond lattices. They are influenced by \u003cem\u003eBokhara \u003c\/em\u003erugs and closely resemble the motifs of \u003cem\u003eTekke \u003c\/em\u003erugs. The repeated motifs are in orderly rows resembling columns, with multiple narrow borders.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57987353575806,"sku":null,"price":699.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0939\/9350\/1054\/files\/IMG_9784-squared.jpg?v=1788814036","url":"https:\/\/www.khorasanrugs.co.uk\/products\/vintage-afghan-zahir-shah-rug-c-1970","provider":"Khorasan Rugs","version":"1.0","type":"link"}