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Mauri (Merv) Rugs

Mauri, Mori, Mouri are Turkic pronunciations for Merv (Marv) which is an ancient Iranian city, today in Turkmenistan. Mauri rugs are actually pieces woven in the villages on the northern border of Afghanistan, south of the city of Marv. Marv was known historically as Margiana. Margiana is a historical region centered on the oasis of Merv and was a minor satrapy within the Achaemenid satrapy of Bactria, and a province within its successors, the Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanian empires. It was located in the valley of the Murghab River which has its sources in the mountains of Afghanistan, and passes through Murghab District in modern Afghanistan, and then reaches the oasis of Merv in modern Turkmenistan. Afghan Mauri rugs are woven by Tekke and Saryk Turkmens. Some may be branded “Maurchaq” which is one of the villages. Generally, best of Afghanistan’s Turkmen rugs are branded as “Afghan Mauri”.

Technical aspects and the structure of Mauri Rugs

Afghan Mauri rugs are double-wefted. The knot density is about 175 knots per square inch. Knots are mostly asymmetric (Persian). These rugs have slightly offset warps. Wool is used for pile and cotton for warp and weft. All-wool pieces could also be found especially among antique pieces. The wool used is of high quality. Rug and carpet sizes are common as well as runners. Afghan Mauri are famous for their trustable weave.
An Afghan Mauri runners
An Afghan Mauri carpet
An Afghan Mauri carpet

Dyeing and painting of Mauri Rugs

Mauri palette is dominated with deep shades of red including purplish tones of red. The guls are painted with red, dark blue and ivory. Brown and dark purple may be used. Camel (or mustard) and olive may be used in small amounts.

Designs and patterns of Mauri Rugs

Afghan Mauri rugs are mostly designed with Tekke and Saryk guls (Motifs). The main ‘gul’ attributed to Saryks is a stepped octagon with concentric hooked crosses which may eventually resemble a central stepped hexagon. A type of Tekke gul design is also called Mauri (or Mori). Mauri designs may also be woven in Pakistan and India. Mauri pieces of Pakistan may be woven by Turkmen immigrants from Afghanistan.
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