Harriet stocks a range of carpets from Afghanistan and Iran in all shapes and sizes from 6’x 4’ (1.8m x 1.2m) up to 12’x 8’ (3.7m x 2.4m) as well as camel bags, grain sacks and tent decorations. The stock is always changing so if you don’t have what you are looking for on one visit you may well find it on the next! Most of the carpets and rugs are contemporary and come from Afghanistan. They are woven using natural dyes and the wool which is of excellent quality comes from Ghazni province near Khandahar.

Harriet also stocks semi antique pieces dating from the early to mid 20th century, particularly Baluchi and Turkoman and nomadic pieces. If you are looking for a particular size or colour then Harriet can help you find it.

There are a wide variety of cushions on offer. Some are made from European fabrics and are priced £18-£37, others are made from kilim fragments or old embroideries from India and Pakistan. All the cushions contain pure feather pads.

In addition there are block printed cotton bedspreads, tablecloths and quilts, hand printed in the traditional way by means of carved wooden printing blocks in the desert towns of Rajasthan. They are machine washable and prices start at £28.

There are also beautiful hand woven silk scarves made by the women of Kabul. The design is based on the traditional Turkoman wedding shawls worn by the bride on her wedding day. The scarves measure 20ins x 80ins ( 51 x 203mm) and come in dozens of glorious colours with 3 narrow bands of traditional Turkoman pattern in contrasting colours and a 6 inch (15mm) knotted fringe. Practical for daytime, dressy enough for evening they make perfect gifts. During the Taliban era in Afghanistan when life was very difficult for women, this small project started by Harriet in 1989 in Peshawar, relocated from Pakistan to Kabul and helped the women to earn a living.

The barn is also an outlet for the wonderful contemporary Susanis from Uzbekistan. From the Tadjik word for needle, Susani’s are one of the most beautiful of the decorative arts of Central Asia. 150 years ago in the towns of Samarkhand, Khiva and Tashkent, Susanis were embroidered by the women of the household and were an important part of the bridle trousseau. Hand spun silk yarn was used to embroider the beautiful flower designs found in the large wall hangings, bedspreads, cushions and curtains. Five years ago an income generation project to assist women was started in the towns and cities of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan reproducing these beautiful textiles using vegetable dyed silk yarn and traditional designs. These contemporary Susanis are exquisite and the high quality craftsmanship combined with the stunning designs make these modern Susanis every bit as good as those produced in the 19th century. They are without doubt an investment for the future.