Oriental Rugs Glossary

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Samarkand

Samarkand is located in Uzbekistan. The city has already been a significant trade center between East Asia and the Middle East and quickly became a spiritual and cultural center of Islam. Samarkand had gained such significance as a trans-shipment center for East Turkestan rugs that valuable rugs from Khotan, Jarkand and Kashgar were called Samarkand. These old Samarkand rugs, which nearly disappeared from the trade, are esteemed objects of museums and private collections.