Dove Grey Khorjin Rug
This dove grey Khorjin rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan and measures 353 x 272 cm. Our records list New Zealand wool and vegetable dyes. Its palette is soft: slate blue, grey and ivory, laid out in horizontal bands across the whole rug.
The design up close
Two wide bands of large ivory palmettes and curling vines on slate blue fill most of the rug. Between them, a single row of eleven small rectangular panels runs across the centre, each holding a stepped medallion in ivory and grey. Narrow bands of tiny flowers, stars and diamonds separate the larger rows, and a band of stepped ivory medallions closes each end.
There is no separate border; the bands run edge to edge, which gives the rug a modern, striped look. Tan accents in the medallions warm the grey and blue.
Both ends finish in a plain ivory fringe. Up close, the slate blue shifts in tone from band to band, darker in some rows and lighter in others, which keeps the dove grey Khorjin rug from looking flat. For cushions and throws, ivory, navy or a warm tan all work with it.
From saddlebag to rug
A khorjin is a pair of woven bags joined together and carried over a horse or donkey, traditionally decorated with geometric patterns. Khorjin rugs take up that look across the whole field. Many are bright and multicoloured; this dove grey Khorjin rug keeps the banded layout but uses soft, quiet colours, which our notes describe as a mix of modern and traditional.
How a dove grey Khorjin rug is made
Weavers tie each knot by hand on a loom and shear the pile. Turn it over and the bands show on the back, knot by knot. Vegetable dyes give gentle shifts of shade across each band, a sign of handwork.
Sizing it for your room
At 353 x 272 cm the rug covers about 9.6 square metres. In a large living room it takes a sofa, two armchairs and a coffee table. Under a dining table of about 240 x 100 cm it leaves roughly 56 cm at each end and 86 cm along each side. A dove grey Khorjin rug in these colours suits grey, white and navy schemes, and the bands make a narrow room look wider when they run across it.
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 dove grey 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.
You can see this dove grey khorjin rug in our showroom or at home. Browse more Khorjin Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Afghan rugs.
