Colourful Khorjin Rug
This colourful Khorjin rug is double hand knotted in Afghanistan from wool and measures 291 x 205 cm. It is built from horizontal bands in rust, orange, gold, grey-blue, cream and sage, each filled with small geometric motifs.
The design up close
The rug is laid out in stripes that run across its width. The top and bottom bands carry rows of zigzags and diamonds in cream, red and blue, and a wider band near the centre holds blue-grey and cream flowers in a line. Between these, narrow stripes in gold, rust and slate break the field into a steady rhythm.
No two stripes match. Some are plain colour, some carry tiny dots, and others hold repeating diamonds in red and blue, so the eye follows the bands rather than one motif. The colours are brightest at the top and bottom edges and softer through the middle, where grey and sage take over. Fringe in blue, white and red finishes both short ends. In this colourful Khorjin rug each band picks up a different tone.
Khorjin rugs and their saddlebag design
Khorjin rugs take their name from the Khorjin, the woven saddlebag of the region. A Khorjin is a pair of woven bags joined together and carried over a horse or donkey, traditionally decorated with geometric patterns. Today’s Khorjin rugs take up that look across the whole field, often in many colours. Our Khorjin rugs are hand knotted in Afghanistan and are full of colourful geometric detail, from rich traditional palettes to bright, multicoloured tones. Traditional pieces use reds, blues and ivory, and newer designs use brighter palettes.
How a colourful Khorjin rug is made
Each knot is tied by hand, and the wool is hard-wearing and often hand spun, which gives the surface its lively texture. Our records note vegetable dyes. Dyed wool varies a little in shade, so each stripe may sit slightly differently against its neighbours.
Sizing it for your room
At 291 x 205 cm this colourful Khorjin rug covers about 6.0 square metres. Under a three-seat sofa of about 2.2 m, roughly 35 cm of rug shows at each end, so the whole sofa sits on it and the front legs of two armchairs can rest on the wool around a coffee table.
The rust, gold and grey bands suit timber floors and neutral walls. This colourful Khorjin rug works for a room where you want a lot of colour in one piece without the space feeling cluttered.
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 this colourful khorjin 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 colourful Khorjin 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 Khorjin Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Afghan rugs.
