WikiRug:Book of the week/2021/4

Tribal Rugs: Treasures of the Black Tent
'Author: Brian W. MacDonald

This book contains a much larger chapter on the Turkmen tribes and extensive up-dating throughout. I have therefore concentrated on the Turkmen tribes, the Baluch and Timuri tribes inhabiting the border-lands of Iran and Afghanistan, the Persian tribes and lastly, the village rugs from the tribes that inhabit the Caucasus. The book is an exploration of one of the most ancient crafts in the world. Beginning with the discovery of the oldest complete rug, which has been dated to the 4th-5th century BC, the reader is taken on a journey through the weaving history of the nomadic peoples of Iran, Afghanistan, The Caucasus and Central Asia. Twenty chapters will introduce different tribal groups and illustrate the rugs, carpets, kilims and utilitarian dowry bags attributed to their weavers. Tribal Rugs is both a celebration of the woven legacy left by the nomadic tribes and a tribute to the skill and artistry of the women who created these wonderful works of tribal art.