Cerulean Blue Shirvan Runner
This cerulean blue Shirvan runner is double knotted by hand in Afghanistan from wool, and measures 280 x 82 cm. A soft blue field runs the length of the rug, with a column of medallions alternating between deep red and cream, and a wide cream border with red guard stripes frames the whole design.
The design up close
The medallions stack down the centre of the blue field. They alternate between deep red and cream, each one a diamond-shaped motif with a small star at its heart. Between them, small red and orange motifs fill the field. Because the field is one soft blue, the red and cream medallions stand out clearly along the whole length of this cerulean blue Shirvan runner.
The border is cream and carries small geometric motifs in red, brown and navy, set in rows. Dark red guard stripes separate it from the field, and a narrow brown edge sits at the outside. A cream border frames this cerulean blue Shirvan runner, so the blue reads as a clear, lighter field inside a warm frame.
Afghan rugs in our collection
Afghanistan has a long weaving tradition, and our Afghan collection ranges from bold tribal designs to calm, contemporary pieces. Its traditional geometry sits within that tradition, with a softer colour than many of the reds. Afghan rugs are hand knotted on a loom, one knot at a time, and that is how this runner was made.
How a cerulean blue Shirvan runner is made
Each knot in this cerulean blue Shirvan runner is tied by hand on a loom, one at a time, and the rug is double knotted as its title records. The wool is handspun, so the thread varies slightly in thickness, and that variation shows in the pile. Our records note vegetable dyes for the blue field and the red and cream motifs. The cream border and the red guard stripes are worked into the same pile as the field, so the frame and the centre form one piece.
Sizing a cerulean blue Shirvan runner
At 280 x 82 cm the runner covers about 2.3 square metres. Its length makes it a hallway piece, and a hallway about 102 to 122 cm wide suits it, leaving 10 to 20 cm of floor on each side. A galley kitchen with a clear walkway at each end suits it too, as does a long entry where the runner can lie from the door toward the rest of the house. Set it down the centre of the hall, and the floor on either side will show evenly from one end to the other.
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 cerulean blue Shirvan runner 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 Runners, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Afghan rugs.
