This painted hunting cloth or chireh was made in 2005 in Herat in western Afghanistan by Haji Abdullah Wakil Zadhah, and his sons and grandsons. These cloths are a vernacular form of art, traditional and unique to the Hindu Kush Mountains and occurring from Tibet to Herat in Afghanistan, and possibly into Iraq. Images of the wild animals to be hunted, generally an Asiatic lion, snow leopard or Siberian tiger, were drawn and painted onto cheap, locally-woven cotton cloth. Chireh were either disposed of after the hunt or used to wrap the captured animal.

The outline of the image is drawn with a ballpoint pen by Haji Abdullah and the lines are drawn over with a brush and hand-ground Indian ink by Haji Abdullah's two sons. They also paint in the black shadows that give the animals definition and volume while Haji Abdullah's grandsons colour in the centres with traditional yellow, red, green and black. The inks they use are not colour fast.

The skills used in making chireh, a technique reminiscent of the kalamkari tradition of Andra Pradesh in India, were handed down through the generations in a family. In a bid to keep their craft alive through broadening its appeal, Haji Abdullah has begun to incorporate in their paintings domestic animals such as horses and camels, local stories and scenes from daily life. The decline in the production and use of hunting cloths has followed the decline in the big cat population and general deforestation over the long war years in Afghanistan. Due to the temporary and utilitarian nature of the chireh, few have survived and few historical records refer to them.

One account of the hunting tradition by Louis Dupree in the 1950s describes a range of animals that were hunted, very rarely for sport. Village hunters were remarkably skilled stalkers, able to mimic the animal being pursued; their weapons were ancient and had to be used at dangerously close range. He writes, "West of Badakhshan, hunters use a large square cloth (chireh) painted with mythological and real animals, to lure birds. Holes cut into the cloth permit vision and firing. At times, hunters dig shallow fox holes before coving themselves with the camouflaged cloth."

Herat, where the chireh was made, boasts one of the most famous schools of miniature paintings, glass makers and fine silk and rug weavers. Following the restrictive Taliban period, art students of both sexes are now returning to study. However, the current situation in Afghanistan has meant that Haji Abdullah and his family, and other equally skilled artisans practising unique crafts, can no longer survive through traditional craft production and are forced to turn to other means of earning a living.

This particular hunting cloth was made by Haji Abdulla Wakil Zadhah, his sons and grandsons, at Herat Afghanistan in 2005.

The painted chireh or hunting cloth is a vernacular form of art, unique to the Hindu Kush Mountains, and reaching from Tibet to Herat in Afghanistan, and possibly into Iraq. They consist of large cotton squares, drawn and painted with the image of the wild animal being hunted, generally an Asiatic lion, snow leopard or Siberian tiger. Images of ground birds are often included, and sometimes forest foliage in the background. Cheap cotton cloth was used as chireh. Chireh were either disposed of after the hunt or used to wrap the captured animal.

The outline of the animals is drawn with a ballpoint pen by Haji Abdullah on locally-woven cotton cloth. These lines are drawn over with a brush and hand-ground Indian ink by Haji Abdullah's two sons; formerly, natural dyes would have been used. The black shadows that give the animal forms their definition and volume are also drawn by the sons. Haji Abdullah's grandsons then colour in the centres with the traditional palette of yellow, red, green and black inks. These inks are not colour fast.

The skills used in making chireh, a technique reminiscent of the kalamkari tradition of Andra Pradesh in India, were handed down through the generations in a family. The tradition today is held by the family of Haji Abdullah Wakil Zadhah of Herat. In a bid to keep their craft alive through broadening its appeal, Haji Abdulla has begun to incorporate in their paintings domestic animals such as horses and camels, local stories and scenes from daily life.

This cloth was made in Herat, which boasts one of the most famous schools of miniature paintings, glass makers and fine silk and rug weavers. Following the restrictive Taliban period, art students of both sexes are now returning to study. However, the current situation in Afghanistan has meant the the chireh's makers, Haji Abdullah and his family, and other equally skilled artisans practising unique crafts, can no longer survive through their craft production and are forced to turn to other means of earning a living.

This chireh was displayed in the exhibition "Chireh: hunting cloths of Herat, Afghanistan", in the foyer of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (NSW Chapter), Tusculum, 3 Manning Street, Potts Point, Sydney, from 11-20 August 2005. The exhibition was curated by Andrea Neild, a Trustee of the Afghan Artisan Trust.

A decline in the production and use of hunting cloths has followed the decline in the big cat population and general deforestation over the long war years in Afghanistan. Due to the temporary and utilitarian nature of the chireh, few have survived and few historical records refer to them.

An account of the hunting tradition by Louis Dupree in the 1950s describes a range of animals that were hunted, very rarely for sport. Village hunters were still remarkably skilled stalkers, able to mimic the animal being pursued; their weapons were ancient and had to be used at dangerously close range. He says, "West of Badakhshan, hunters use a large square cloth (chireh) painted with mythological and real animals, to lure birds. Holes cut into the cloth permit vision and firing. At times, hunters dig shallow fox holes before coving themselves with the camouflaged cloth."

Framed hunting cloth (chireh), handwoven cotton painted with Indian ink / wood, made by Haji Abdullah Wakil Zadhah and his sons and grandsons, Herat, Afghanistan, 2005

A rectangular cotton hunting cloth or chireh with painted hunting imagery. The principal figure is a large male Asiatic lion in profile with his head towards the left and facing forward and his mouth open; two lion cubs are drawn below him. All the lions have coats infilled with small black squares. Above and below the large lion's head are white birds with grey wings and beige bodies. The cloth has a dark wood frame.

Artist: Zadhah, Haji Abdullah Wakil; Herat, Afghanistan; 2005

No marks

2006/76/1

2005

1760 mm

1070 mm