abr (Textile)

Silk ikat textiles would be used to construct a man’s or woman’s robe (chapan), a wall hanging, or a coverlet for a bed.

According to Alan Davidson, who imported the item, this textile was dyed and woven in Kabul, Afghanistan, by Uzbek craftspeople. Prior to the early 20th century, production of ikat textiles was centred in Bukhara and Samarkand, Uzbekistan, but political changes in the area as a result of the Russian Revolution caused many of the ikat-makers to relocate to Afghanistan in order to avoid collectivization.

A length of silk warp-face ikat textile, with large-scale, bold, stylized motifs in blue, white and yellow on a yellow background. Red selvages. Torn edges on both ends.