Blue Abshari Bamboo Silk Rug
This blue Abshari bamboo silk rug was made in Afghanistan in wool and measures 242 x 168 cm. The ground is cream, with red and turquoise in the design, so the colour sits in the pattern rather than across the whole field.
The design up close
On this blue Abshari bamboo silk rug, a column of three large lozenge medallions runs down the centre of the field. Each one is red with a cream centre, and they are linked by orange-brown stems that curve out to smaller shapes on either side. Small motifs in turquoise, red, mauve and green fill the spaces between the medallions, so the cream ground stays open.
A turquoise band frames the field, and the outer border is red with a stepped, zigzag edge and a thin cream line. The design is a Sarasar pattern, with small motifs set on a light ground, so the red and turquoise stand out from a distance.
Afghan weaving and this rug
Afghanistan has a long weaving tradition, and the rugs made there today range from bold tribal designs to calm, contemporary pieces. Afghan rugs more often carry geometric and tribal designs and a heavier, more relaxed feel than the curving floral designs found in other weaving regions.
This blue Abshari bamboo silk rug sits within that tradition with its tribal character and its medallion column. Its lozenges and stepped border carry that tribal character into a rug with a light ground. Thick wool hides everyday wear, so Afghan rugs suit family rooms, entrances, hallways and dining rooms.
How a blue Abshari bamboo silk rug is made
Afghan rugs are hand knotted on a loom, one knot at a time, and the medallions and smaller motifs are formed the same way. Our records note natural dyes for this rug, and the same knotting method runs through the medallions, the smaller motifs and the border.
Sizing it for your room
At 242 x 168 cm, this blue Abshari bamboo silk rug covers about 4.1 square metres. Its 2.42 m length suits a seating group, because the front legs of a sofa and two armchairs can rest on it around a coffee table. With a dining table of about 180 x 90 cm, roughly 31 cm of rug shows past each end and 39 cm along each side.
The cream ground lightens a room with dark timber, and the red and turquoise motifs pick up colour from cushions and curtains. A blue Abshari bamboo silk rug of this size suits a living room with pale walls.
Looking after your rug
Vacuum it on a suction-only setting, or with the beater bar switched off, so the brush does not pull at the knots. 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 11 am to 4:30 pm, to see this blue Abshari bamboo silk rug in person. If you would rather judge it in your own room, with your own light and furniture, book an in-home viewing and we will bring a selection to you.
Browse more Afghan Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Afghan rugs.
