Cream Khorjin Rug
This cream Khorjin rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan from wool and measures 407 x 300 cm, or about 12.2 square metres. Its ivory ground is covered in horizontal rows of small motifs in red, green, blue and gold, and three wide bands of red and navy lozenge medallions cross the field. It is double hand knotted, and our records note vegetable dyes.
The design up close
Between the broad bands, the ivory field is set out in rows of small motifs. Some rows hold tiny tree-like shapes, others hold stars, crosses and small flower heads, and the colours change from one motif to the next: red, green, blue, purple and gold. The motifs are evenly spaced, so the pattern repeats in tidy lines down the rug.
The top and bottom borders are built from narrow bands of small zigzags, diamonds and tree shapes. Along the very bottom edge, a row of small figures stands in line, some of them like animals, in the same colours. Across this rug the palette stays muted, with no single colour taking over. The bands run straight across the width, so the field looks even from either end of the rug. The cream ground keeps the many colours from competing, so the rug suits a light room.
Khorjin rugs and the saddlebag
Khorjin rugs take their name from the Khorjin, a woven saddlebag. 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 that look across the whole field, often in many colours, and this rug does the same with its rows of small motifs.
How a cream Khorjin rug is made
The rug is hand knotted in Afghanistan, one knot at a time on a loom, and the design shows clearly on the back, with slight irregularities from tying each knot by hand. Thick, hard-wearing wool gives the surface a lively texture. A room-size rug can take a small team of weavers many months, and at 12.2 square metres this one is a room-size piece.
Sizing your cream Khorjin rug
At 407 x 300 cm this cream Khorjin rug suits a large living room or family room. A three-seat sofa of about 2.2 m sits fully on it with roughly 94 cm of rug past each end. A dining table of 240 x 100 cm, for eight, leaves about 84 cm of rug at each end and 100 cm along each side. Its busy pattern hides everyday wear, which makes it practical for family use.
Looking after your cream Khorjin 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 cream 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.
