Cream Mamluk Afghan Rug
This cream Mamluk Afghan rug was double hand knotted in Afghanistan in lamb wool and measures 310 x 235 cm, about 7.3 square metres. Its field is a muted grey blue with gold and ochre motifs, and its border is sage and olive green flecked with gold.
The design up close
A large octagonal medallion in gold sits at the centre of the field, with a rosette inside it. Octagonal medallions in the same gold repeat at the top and bottom of the field, and square gold cartouches sit on either side of the bands beneath them. Together they give this cream Mamluk Afghan rug a strong central axis.
Small rosettes and gold teardrop shapes fill the spaces around the medallions, drawn in thin lines, so the field has a fine, busy texture. The colours are soft and faded: grey blue for the ground, ochre and gold for the motifs, with touches of sage and pale tones in the details. The gold of the medallions is the strongest colour in the field, and the cartouches repeat it, so the whole rug holds together.
The border is a wide band in sage and olive green, flecked with gold and cream, with a fine repeating pattern along it. A thin pale guard line separates the border from the field.
The Mamluk era behind the design
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 kaleidoscopic designs: medallions built from octagons, stars and small geometric shapes that fill the whole rug. Weavers in Afghanistan revive these designs today, and this rug follows that tradition in its octagonal centre and fine repeats.
How it is made
Our records note double hand knotting, so each knot in this cream Mamluk Afghan rug was tied by hand on a loom. Lamb wool gives the pile a fine, soft texture, and the design shows on the back as well.
Sizing this cream Mamluk Afghan rug
At 310 x 235 cm, this cream Mamluk Afghan rug covers about 7.3 square metres. A three-seat sofa of around 2.2 m leaves about 45 cm of rug past each end, so the whole sofa sits on it. Under a dining table of about 180 x 90 cm, the rug leaves roughly 65 cm at each end and 73 cm along each side. The grey blue and gold suit timber floors and neutral furnishings, and the sage border frames the faded centre so it looks set inside a softer edge.
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 cream Mamluk Afghan 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.
