W eaving Poems is a collection of 24 carpets created by Afghan designer Maryam Omar and the women weavers of Bamiyan in central Afghanistan. The designs are inspired by poems associated with traditional weaving practices, as well as by the natural and cultural landscapes of the Bamiyan Valley. The exhibition pays tribute to these artisan communities and their heritage. Weaving Poems was first exhibited at Qatar Museums’ inaugural Design Doha in 2024. The Weaving Poems carpets were handwoven using locally sourced spun wool and natural and mineral dyes by Nakbakht, Shahra Bano, Sadiqa, Ruqia, Soqra, Razia, Ozra, Fatema, Zahra, Maryam, Masuma, Sharifa, Zahra, Sakina, Nakbakht, Malalay, Rahima, Noor Begum, Sajeda, Zainab, Aziza, Marziya, Zahra and Razia.
Fourteen of the Weaving Poems carpets will be on display at Sotheby’s New Bond Street from July 28 to August 22 2025. The exhibition is organized by the UK charity Turquoise Mountain Trust in partnership with Sotheby’s and marks the first in a series of events celebrating Turquoise Mountain’s 20th year.
Turquoise Mountain’s work with artisan communities in Afghanistan is generously supported by the Qatar Fund For Development, Alwaleed Philanthropies and partners around the world.
Read LessLocation:
34–35 New Bond Street, London W1A 2AA, UK
Hours:
Monday–Friday | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
This selling exhibition will be accompanied by dedicated panel discussions with leading experts in the fields of craftsmanship and heritage alongside a series of lunchtime artisan-led demonstrations ranging from calligraphy, miniature painting, to jewellery making. Further details and dates to be announced soon.
Turquoise Mountain
SALES@TURQUOISEMOUNTAIN.ORG
Adam Heald
Project Manager, MENA
ADAM.HEALD@SOTHEBYS.COM
This panel discussion brings together some of Turquoise Mountain’s closest and most enduring commercial collaborators to celebrate the wonderful and distinctive weaving traditions of Afghanistan.
Panellists include Matt Bourne (Co-Founder, Christopher Farr), Ali McMurter (Managing Partner, Creative Matters), Maryam Al Ghithani (Acting Head of African and Asian Projects, Qatar Fund for Development), Guy Oliver (Managing Director, Oliver Laws), and Ben Evans (Editor, Hali Magazine), moderated by Toby Ash (Commercial Director, Turquoise Mountain).
RSVP
Turquoise Mountain is currently restoring a 17th-century earthen caravanserai at the eastern gateway to the Bamiyan Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Outstanding Universal Value. The first phase of restoration is due to complete in 2025 for onward re-use as a community-led carpet weaving centre. As part of the programme for the Weaving Poems exhibition of carpets made by communities in the Bamiyan Valley, Turquoise Mountain is hosting a panel discussion exploring approaches to conservation, adaptive re-use and regeneration of historic buildings and areas, in partnership with local communities.
Panellists include Felicity Cain (Deputy Director, UN-Habitat Syria), John Darlington (Director of Projects, World Monuments Fund Britain), Elke Selter (Director of Programs, International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage (ALIPH), moderated by Harry Wardill (CEO, Turquoise Mountain).
Location: 34–35 New Bond Street, London W1A 2AA, UK
The Art of Calligraphy, by Samira Kitman
Tuesday 5 August | Thursday 7 August | Friday 8 August
The Art of Miniature Painting, by Fakhria Nezami
Tuesday 12 August | Thursday 14 August | Friday 15 August
The Art of Jewellery Design and Crafting, by Saeeda Etebari
Tuesday 19 August | Thursday 21 August | Friday 22 August
