Black and White Abstract Rug
The Cracked Pepper rug is a black and white abstract rug from India in wool and silk, measuring 352 x 273 cm. That is 9.6 square metres of floor, enough for a large living room, a main bedroom or an open plan dining area.
The design up close
At first glance this is a mid grey rug. Up close it is made of two colours only: ivory white and black, broken up into tiny flecks and short streaks that blend into grey from a distance. The mix is not even, so some areas look almost white and others close to black.
The streaks run mostly in horizontal lines, with pale and dark bands drifting across the rug like cloud or smoke. In the close-up view they pull into long vertical strokes, which shows how much the pattern changes with distance and with the way you view it.
There is no border and no repeating motif, so the whole surface works as one abstract field. A loose cream fringe finishes the ends, and the back is a similar mottled grey.
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, as this one does.
How this black and white abstract rug is made
This black and white abstract rug comes from India and is made from wool and silk. Wool is hard wearing, springy and matte, and it forms the body of the rug. A second fibre sits in the mix alongside it.
Because the colour is blended as flecks, the surface stays forgiving in a busy room. Small marks and shadows are hard to pick out against the speckled ground.
Sizing it for your room
At 352 x 273 cm this rug suits a large room. Under a living room set, a three-seat sofa about 2.2 m long sits along the long side with 66 cm to spare at each end. In a bedroom, a queen bed (153 cm wide) centred across the width leaves 60 cm on each side, and a king bed (183 cm wide) leaves 45 cm.
Under a dining table that seats eight (240 x 100 cm), the rug extends 56 cm past each end of the table and 86.5 cm past each side. Measure your own furniture before you decide, and tape the outline of the rug on the floor to judge how it fills the space.
Looking after your black and white 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. Rubbing spills can dull silk, so this rug needs a cleaner who handles that fibre 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.
Visit our showroom at 307 Penshurst St, North Willoughby, open every day from 10 am to 4:30 pm, to see this black and white 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 white abstract rug in our showroom or at home. Browse more Abstract rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about silk.
