Handmade Black and Gold Abstract Rug
The Starling rug is a black and gold abstract rug, handmade in India and measuring 356 x 267 cm. It covers 9.5 square metres of floor.
The design up close
Black covers the whole rug. Over it, small flecks of gold, amber and cream are scattered at different densities, thick in some places and sparse in others, like sparks on a dark ground. Seen close, the flecks are tiny tufts of colour set among the black.
In some areas the flecks line up in short horizontal dashes and faint vertical lines, which gives the speckle a loose grid underneath. That structure keeps it from looking random. There is no border and no central motif, so the rug reads as one continuous texture, dark at a distance and glittering up close.
The back is a flat, ribbed weave in dark grey with the same gold flecks showing through, and a white fringe finishes the ends. A rug this dark anchors a room, so it suits pale walls, light timber floors and furniture in cream or stone.
Indian weaving and this rug
India has a long rug weaving tradition, with centres including Agra and the Bhadohi and Mirzapur area of Uttar Pradesh. Indian workshops weave many modern and abstract designs, often to order, in a wide range of colours and sizes. Wool is the most common pile, and some rugs mix wool with other fibres.
How this black and gold abstract rug is made
This black and gold abstract rug is handmade in India. A handmade rug is made one at a time, so small differences in the spacing of the gold flecks and the depth of the black are to be expected.
Abstract rugs like this one drop the border and the central medallion of a traditional design and rely on colour and texture alone. Here that means a deep black field and a scatter of warm metallic-looking colour, with the lines in the speckle giving it order.
Sizing it for your room
At 356 x 267 cm this rug suits a large living room or a main bedroom. Under a queen bed (153 cm wide), centred across the width, it extends 57 cm beyond each side. Under a king bed (183 cm wide) it extends 42 cm each side. In a dining room, a 240 x 100 cm table for eight leaves 58 cm of rug beyond each end and 83.5 cm along each side, so the chairs can be pulled out and stay on the rug.
Looking after your black and gold abstract rug
Vacuum it on a suction-only setting, or with the beater bar switched off, so the brush does not pull at the pile. Turn it around every six to twelve months so sun and foot traffic wear it evenly. Blot spills with a clean white cloth and cold water rather than rubbing them in. When it needs a full clean, choose a cleaner who washes handmade rugs by hand.
Put a good underlay beneath it. It stops the rug sliding on timber or tiles, adds cushioning and takes some of the wear off the pile. Moths like wool in dark, quiet spots, such as the part of a rug under a sofa, so vacuum those areas often and lift the furniture now and then.
See it before you buy
Visit our showroom at 307 Penshurst St, North Willoughby, open every day from 10 am to 4:30 pm, to see this black and gold abstract rug in person. If you would rather judge it in your own room, with your own light and furniture, book a home trial and we will bring a selection to you.
You can see this black and gold abstract rug in our showroom or at home. Browse more Contemporary rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about rug weaving around Bhadohi in India.
