Samarkand rug

Samarkand rug from Kashgar, Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, China, 19th century; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

Samarkand rug, handwoven floor covering that was once marketed through the ancient city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan but is actually produced by Kyrgyz or Uzbek tribeswomen or in the towns of Khotan (Hotan), Kashgar, and Yarkand in Xinjiang, China. Except for their colouring, the general effect of these rugs is more Chinese than Middle Eastern. See Kashgar rug; Khotan rug.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Citation Information
Article Title: Samarkand rug
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 31 August 2006
Access Date: February 23, 2025