Woven Words at Sotheby's: Afghan Poetry in Thread
This summer, Sotheby's Bond Street becomes home to an extraordinary celebration of Afghan textile heritage. Weaving Poems, a collaboration between Turquoise Mountain and Sotheby's, presents fourteen exquisite carpets that transform ancient poetry into contemporary art, running now until the 22 August 2025.
At the heart of this collection lies the vision of Afghan designer Maryam Omar, who has worked alongside the women weavers of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan to create twenty-four carpets that sing with cultural memory. Each piece draws inspiration from poems traditionally associated with weaving practices, while the natural and cultural landscapes of the Bamiyan valley breathe life into every thread.
Detail of an artisan weaving a Turquoise Mountain carpet for Maryam Omar. Image Courtesy of Turquoise Mountain.
The artistry is profoundly local and authentic. Using locally-sourced spun wool and natural mineral dyes, twenty-four named women weavers - including Nakbakht, Shahra Bano, Sadiqa, Ruqia, and Razia - have poured their skill and heritage into each carpet. Their names, carefully recorded, ensure these master craftswomen receive recognition for their exceptional work.
Weaving Poems first captivated audiences at Qatar Museums' inaugural Design Doha in 2024, and will return home to Afghanistan when a sister exhibition opens at the UNESCO Cultural Centre in Bamiyan this September. This London showing marks the first in a series of events celebrating Turquoise Mountain's twentieth anniversary - two decades of supporting artisan communities and preserving cultural heritage.
Atmosphere Zameen. Hand Knotted Carpet woven by Bamiyan women weavers. Designed by Maryam Omar. Image Courtesy of Turquoise Mountain.
The exhibition extends beyond static display. Two evening panel discussions will explore Afghanistan's distinctive weaving traditions (6 August) and the restoration of built heritage across Afghanistan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and the UK (13 August). Visitors can also witness live demonstrations by accomplished artisans: miniature painter Fakhria Nezami, jeweller Saeeda Etebari, and calligrapher Samira Kitman.
This project pays tribute to artisan communities whose skills have survived centuries of change. In an era when traditional crafts face extinction, Weaving Poems stands as testament to the enduring power of handmade beauty and cultural continuity. The carpets themselves become vessels of storytelling, carrying forward the voices of women whose artistry might otherwise remain unseen.
Landscape Dara Sand. Hand Knotted Carpet woven by Bamiyan women weavers. Designed by Maryam Omar. Image Courtesy of Turquoise Mountain.
The exhibition offers free admission to all events, reflecting Turquoise Mountain's commitment to accessibility. Supported by the Qatar Fund For Development, Alwaleed Philanthropies, and international partners, this initiative demonstrates how cultural preservation can thrive through thoughtful collaboration.
Weaving Poems invites us to experience textiles as literature, craft as poetry, and tradition as living art - a profound reminder that the most meaningful stories are often told not in words, but in the patient interlacing of threads by skilled hands.
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Further Information:
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Image Credits:
Lead Image: Atmosphere Faza, Hand Knotted Carpet woven by Bamiyan women weavers. Designed by Maryam Omar.