Cloudy Sky Contemporary Rug
This cloudy sky contemporary rug was double hand knotted in Agra, India, from New Zealand wool, and measures 368 x 278 cm. Its field runs in soft horizontal bands of white, silver, grey and charcoal, with a small diamond pattern in many of them, and fringe finishes both short ends, in white against the grey edges.
The design up close
The bands alternate between light and dark. The lightest are nearly white and silver with fine grey flecks, while the darkest sit in charcoal and close to black. The tones blend gradually at the edges of each band, so the field looks like a sky moving from clear to overcast. Each band is a speckled mix of yarns rather than one flat colour.
Many bands carry a small diamond lattice in a slightly darker grey than the ground, so the pattern stays quiet and shows mainly as you look closely. Some diamond rows run in the light bands and some in the dark ones. This cloudy sky contemporary rug has no border or central motif, and the field runs edge to edge.
Agra and Indian weaving
India has a long hand-knotted rug tradition, with weaving centres including Agra. Agra has been a carpet-weaving centre since at least the 17th century, and the Bhadohi and Mirzapur area of Uttar Pradesh is the largest carpet-making region in India. Indian workshops weave many contemporary designer rugs, often to order, and wool is the most common pile.
How it is made
Our records note vegetable dyes. This cloudy sky contemporary rug is double hand knotted, so each knot was tied by hand on the loom. Its white, silver, grey and charcoal tones sit in the knotted pile itself.
Sizing this cloudy sky contemporary rug for your room
At 368 x 278 cm the rug covers about 10.2 square metres. Under a three-seat sofa of about 2.2 m, it runs roughly 74 cm past each end, so the front legs of the sofa and two armchairs can rest on it around a coffee table. Under a dining table of about 240 x 100 cm, it leaves roughly 64 cm at each end and 89 cm along each side, enough for the chairs to slide back.
Grey and white bands suit timber floors, concrete and pale walls, and a cloudy sky contemporary rug of this size gives a large room texture without strong colour. At 368 cm long, it is a rug for a large living room rather than a small one.
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 cloudy sky contemporary 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 Contemporary, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about rugs and carpets.
