Cream Vintage Mamluk Rug
This cream vintage Mamluk rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan in fine lamb’s wool, double knotted, and measures 310 x 235 cm. Its main colour is a faded grey blue, with ochre and mustard gold motifs and a sage green border, giving the washed, worn-in look that its vintage name promises.
The design up close
A large octagon outlined in mustard gold fills the centre of the field, with a smaller rosette inside it. Near each end, a second octagonal medallion sits on the centre line, drawn in the same gold with a small rosette at its heart.
Between the medallions, rows of gold squares and teardrop shapes run across the field. Small squares sit near each long side, and the teardrop pendants point in towards the middle.
The border is a broad band in sage green, with small gold and cream flowers scattered over it and a thin inner stripe framing the field.
Mamluk designs and their origins
The Mamluks ruled Egypt and Syria from 1250 to 1517. The carpets woven in Cairo from the late 15th century, and into the 16th, are known for their kaleidoscopic designs, with medallions built from octagons, stars and small geometric shapes that fill the whole rug. This cream vintage Mamluk rug keeps the octagons at its centre and ends, but softens them with a faded palette.
Weavers in Afghanistan revive these designs today. This piece is one of our Afghan vintage rugs, so it brings the bold geometry of the Mamluk tradition into a Sydney home, in soft wool and faded tones.
How it is made
Afghan rugs are hand knotted on a loom, one knot at a time, and a room-size rug can take a small team of weavers many months. This rug is double knotted, as its title states, and the pile is fine lamb’s wool.
Our records note vegetable dyes. The colours of this cream vintage Mamluk rug are soft and layered across the field, moving from blue grey to sage and gold,.
Sizing this cream vintage Mamluk rug for your room
At 310 x 235 cm, this cream vintage Mamluk rug covers about 7.3 square metres. In a living room, the front legs of a three-seat sofa of around 2.2 m can sit on it with about 45 cm showing past each end, and two armchairs can rest their front legs on the rug beside a coffee table.
In a dining room, a table of about 180 x 90 cm with chairs around it leaves roughly 65 cm of rug at each end and about 73 cm along each side. That gives the chairs room to slide back while they stay on the rug.
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
This rug may already be you are welcome to see our other vintage rugs at our showroom at 307 Penshurst St, North Willoughby, open every day from 11 am to 4:30 pm. If you would rather compare pieces 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.
