Deep Red Shirvan Runner
This deep red Shirvan runner is double knotted by hand in Afghanistan from wool, and measures 305 x 86 cm. Its deep red field runs the full length of the rug, with a column of geometric medallions in cream, orange brown and grey blue, inside a cream border with narrow guard stripes.
The design up close
The medallions stack end to end down the centre of the red field. Each one is a geometric shape with a small star at its heart, outlined in navy and cream. Between them sit star-shaped motifs in ivory and grey blue, some with a small orange centre, so the eye travels down the rug from one shape to the next.
The cream border is the wide band that frames the field. It carries small geometric motifs in red, navy and green grey, set in rows, and a narrow navy line runs close to the field. A deep red Shirvan runner like this one draws the eye down a hall, and its saturated colour is the first thing you notice.
Afghan rugs in our collection
Afghanistan has a long weaving tradition. Our Afghan collection ranges from bold tribal designs to calm, contemporary pieces, and runners like this one suit entrances, hallways and kitchens, where a rug takes daily foot traffic. Afghan rugs are hand knotted on a loom, one knot at a time, and the bold geometry of this deep red Shirvan runner fits that tradition. Its strong column of shapes and its border of small motifs make it easy to read from the end of a hall.
How a deep red Shirvan runner is made
Each knot in this deep red Shirvan runner is tied by hand, and the title records a double knotted build from handspun wool. Handspun yarn varies slightly in thickness, which shows as soft variation in the pile. Our records note vegetable dyes for the red field and the cream and blue motifs.
Sizing a deep red Shirvan runner
At 305 x 86 cm the runner covers about 2.6 square metres, and its length makes it a hallway piece. A hallway about 106 to 126 cm wide suits it, leaving 10 to 20 cm of floor showing on each side of the runner. A galley kitchen with a clear walkway at each end suits it too. Keep the runner centred in the space, so the same strip of floor shows on both sides. Leave a gap at each end so the runner does not block a doorway, which keeps the hall easy to walk through.
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 deep red Shirvan runner 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 Runners, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Afghan rugs.
