Blue Derakhti Afghan Runner
This blue Derakhti Afghan runner was double hand knotted in Afghanistan in lamb’s wool and measures 218 x 83 cm. Slate and steel blues frame five stacked panels of pictorial motifs, with cream and brown bands between them, so the runner reads as a calm, layered strip of pattern.
The design up close
Across this blue Derakhti Afghan runner, the top and bottom panels each hold a tall tree on either side, one in red and cream and one in teal. A central tree of round, striped fruit in red, teal and cream stands between them, with small flowers and figures on the blue-grey ground around.
The three middle panels are each built around a small central figure or tree, with birds, flowers and tiny plants on either side. They sit on a pale blue and brown ground that changes as the panels run down the length.
The outer border is blue, with small red and cream animals marching along the top and bottom edges. Along each long side, a narrow strip holds small red and cream figures between the panels. The blues shift from slate at the edges to paler blue in the middle bands, which gives the runner depth.
Where Afghan rugs come from
Afghanistan has a long weaving tradition, and some of the rugs made there today use hand-spun wool and natural dyes, which give them soft, lively colour. Our Afghan collection ranges from bold tribal designs to calm, contemporary pieces, and this runner sits toward the calmer, modern end of that range.
Afghan rugs are hand knotted on a loom, one knot at a time. Their thick wool and patterned fields hide everyday wear, which makes them a good choice for family rooms, entrances, hallways and dining rooms.
How this blue Derakhti Afghan runner is made
This runner is double hand knotted, so each knot was tied by hand on a loom, row after row. Turn it over and the design shows on the back, with the slight irregularities that hand knotting leaves. Our records note vegetable dyes for this piece.
The pile of this blue Derakhti Afghan runner is lamb’s wool. Pictorial designs like this one depend on small, even knots, because each bird, figure and flower is built from separate points of colour.
Sizing it for your room
At 218 x 83 cm this blue Derakhti Afghan runner covers about 1.8 square metres. Its length suits a hallway, a kitchen galley or the floor beside a bed. For a hallway, allow the runner width plus about 10 to 20 cm of floor on each side, so a hallway about 103 to 123 cm wide suits it.
Because the runner is narrow, keep it to floor where people walk, and place it where the blue panels can be seen as you come through the door.
Looking after your rug
Vacuum this blue Derakhti Afghan runner 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 blue Derakhti Afghan 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 Afghan Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Afghan rugs.
