A man's woolen coat from the Pashtun Mangal tribe. Made from a locally handwoven patti cloth, these coats are decorated with woolen embroidery, in branching patterns. The archaic, stylized designs are reminiscent of the woolen garments and felts from Central Asia, which is not surprising given the continuous trade linking Afghanistan with Central Asia...

This vintage Pashtun beaded purse from the mid 20th century is embroidered in an extremely fine ladder stitch in silk thread on a dark purple polyester ground. The thread colors are mustard, violet and kiwi green. The purse is embellished with tiny blue seed beads on the edges which is a traditional feature of Pashtun embroideries. It is lined with red cotton fabric in the interior. Condition is excellent. Dimensions are 11.5 x 12 cm closed, 11 x 22 cm when open.

The painstaking embroidery technique on this vintage Pashtun purse from Afghanistan is called "pokhtaduzi", or Romanian couching, where the thread is taken across the surface for the desired length, then, bringing the needle back to the beginning, it is caught down at regular intervals by tiny stitches. The process is repeated until the entire surface area is covered, the small holding stitches being staggered from one thread to the next, giving a characteristic relief to the pattern...

The stellar designs on this envelope-shaped purse is characteristic of the Pashtun embroidery from Katawaz province, renowned for its dense and meticulously worked ladder stitch. This small purse measures 14 x 26.5 cm when opened, 10 x 14.5 cm when closed. The silk embroidery is expertly worked on a deep purple silk ground, framed with blue glass seed beads, the interior lined in red printed cotton...

Measuring 13.5 cm when closed, 30.5 cm when fully elongated, this charming beaded purse from Afghanistan was made by Pashtuns and is in excellent condition given its age (mid 20th century). Blue and white seed beads surround the edges, protecting the wearer from evil. The stitching technique is characteristic of Pashtun embroidery, with intricate ladder stitch and basma stitch, where the silk thread is taken parallel with the metallic thread, fastening it down at regular intervals...

A child's embroidered dress front from Hunza valley, located in the rugged, mountainous northern areas of Pakistan. Silk thread on cotton ground, densely embroidered in cross stitch and petit point. Estimated age mid 20th century. Measures 28 x 48.5 cm (11 x 19"). Some staining on the front with some dye bleeding. The reverse is lined in silk.

A vintage choli from Pakistan, circa late 20th century. Hand embroidered in red and gold metallic thread on black chiffon to form abstract patterns. The choli is lined inside. Condition is excellent.

A Hazara puttee estimated to date from the mid to late 20th century, in perfect condition. Measures 10x65 cm (with the tassel, 124 cm in length). Condition is excellent. On one side is a printed fabric, probably from Russia. The extremely fine brick stitch in interlocking diamond patterns is a hallmark of Hazara embroidery. Probably from Jaghori (Ghazni) or Bamiyan province.

The Kuchi are the nomadic and semi-nomadic people of Afghanistan. This cushion was made from a traditional Kuchi textile and has burgundy velvet on the reverse with cording along the edges. The embroidery is intricate ladder stitch and button hole stitch, with cotton thread and metallic braiding throughout. Condition is great. It measures 44 x 64 cm. Estimated age mid to late 20th century.

A Baluchi saddle bag ("khurzeen") from the mid to late 20th century, measuring 47 x 109 cm. In wool ground with patterned bands in weft-faced, slit tapestry, half pile and half kilim. Strong plaited goat hair loops are attached which are interlaced when closing. Condition is excellent.

The kilims from around Almar, a village near Maimana, are tightly woven and feature large central medallions with hooked motifs. This hand knotted kilim measures 96.5 x 124.5 cm and is in excellent condition. It dates to the late 20th century and is made of sheep's wool. The palette is subdued as is typical of the kilims from this area of Afghanistan. This kilim was made of vegetable dyes.

This handmade kilim from Maimana shows the medallion design and double interlock designs typical of the kilims from this area, inhabited by Uzbeks, Ersari Turkomen, and other tribal groups. It measures 87 x 127 cm. In excellent condition. Late 20th century. It is made of 100% sheep's wool.

A Labijar kilim in slitweave from northern Afghanistan. It measures 70 x 96 cm and is hand knotted from sheep's wool. Late 20th century.

This small textile features 25 small mirrors ("shisha") and measures 8.2 x 17.8 cm. There are supposed to be 26 mirrors but one of them is missing, either intentionally or not. Silk and metallic thread on cotton, densely embroidered throughout, with very fine button hole stitching and Romanian couching technique in the center. Mid to late 20th century. Condition is excellent.

This pair of embroidered squares were made by Pashtun nomad tribeswomen of Hazarajat. They dazzle the eye with their vibrant colors and mirrored discs ("gul-i-peron") which enliven the quadrants of each textile. Each square measures 24.5 x 24.5 cm and is embroidered in silk thread on a green silk background, depicting radiating solar motifs in a carefully composed symmetry...

Hand made from quality leather and decorated with delicate thread embroidery at the toe tips and last border, the traditional pair of womans leather shoes would have been worn by a woman of some means...judging by their overall condition, these shoes have been worn a few times.

A vintage Sindhi rilhi here re-designed into a modern cushion cover. Measures 39 x 64 cm and is in excellent condition. White cotton cording along the edges, with button hole stitching as the main attraction. Mirrors ("shisha") are used extensively in the embroideries of South Asia to attract the sunlight and also to repel the evil spirits ("jinn"). Estimated age mid to late 20th century. Cotton thread on a cotton ground...

This embroidered shield-shaped panel ("Uut kap Ilgitsh") made of thick red velvet would traditionally be one of a pair, to protect the ends of yurt poles which are tied into bunches on a pack animal's back while in transit to a new location. These bags have both protective and decorative functions. The repeating embroidered ram's horn motif in metallic couching evokes the animal art of the Central Asian steppes...