Brown Mamluk Rug
This brown Mamluk rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan in lamb’s wool and measures 225 x 155 cm. Its brown ground is framed by a green border, and a large octagonal medallion sits at the centre with smaller geometric motifs in blue, purple and green around it.
The design of this brown Mamluk rug
The central medallion is an octagon with arms that reach toward the edges, outlined in blue-violet and filled with small cream, teal and red rosettes. Around it the brown field carries small geometric motifs in teal, blue and purple, arranged in rows that run the full length of the rug. Small rosettes sit near the corners of the field, and the border’s inner edge is a thin cream line.
On this brown Mamluk rug, the border is teal-green, decorated with small red and purple motifs that repeat along each edge. The brown ground is an even, warm tone, so the medallion and border do most of the work. The blue-violet outline of the medallion is the coolest colour in the centre, and it separates the arms from the brown.
Thin rows of red and cream dots run between the medallion and the border, and a fine teal line marks the change from brown field to green edge. Because the medallion is so large, the eye takes in the whole rug before it notices the small motifs.
Where Mamluk rugs come from
The Mamluks ruled Egypt and Syria from 1250 to 1517, and the carpets woven in Cairo from the late 15th century, and into the 16th, are known for their kaleidoscopic designs. Their medallions are built from octagons and stars that fill the whole rug. Weavers in Afghanistan revive these designs today, and this brown Mamluk rug follows that tradition.
How it is made
This brown Mamluk rug is hand knotted in Afghanistan from lamb’s wool. Weavers tie each knot by hand on a loom, and the medallion is built from these knots one row at a time, so the lines can show slight variation. The green border and brown field are worked the same way, so the two colours meet along slightly uneven edges.
Sizing it for your room
At 225 x 155 cm this brown Mamluk rug covers about 3.5 square metres. It suits a seating group, with the front legs of a sofa and two armchairs resting on it around a coffee table, and the medallion in the middle of the group. Warm timber floors show its brown tones well. The teal border shows most clearly against pale timber or grey wool.
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 brown Mamluk 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 Mamluk Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Mamluk carpets.
