Grey Khorjin Rug
This grey Khorjin rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan in lamb’s wool and measures 204 x 155 cm, about 3.2 square metres. Its grey-taupe ground is covered in small columns of blue, red, orange and green motifs, with medallion bands at the top and bottom.
The design up close
The grey ground runs through the whole field, broken into vertical columns of small motifs. Each column stacks small motifs in blue, red, orange, green or cream, one above the other, and thin rows of dots separate the columns.
At the top and bottom, the columns give way to wider bands of medallions in red, orange and cream with green and blue accents. Narrow rows of small diamonds run between these bands and the field, and a short fringe finishes both ends of this grey Khorjin rug.
In this grey Khorjin rug the small blue and red motifs stand out against the neutral ground, so the rug carries its colour in small, repeated touches. The colours change from one motif to the next within a column, so each column looks varied.
From saddlebag to rug
The Khorjin design takes its name from the Khorjin, a woven saddlebag made as a pair of bags joined together and carried over a horse or donkey. The saddlebags were traditionally decorated with geometric patterns, and the Khorjin style carries that geometry across the whole field.
How it is made
Weavers in Afghanistan tie each knot by hand on a loom, one knot at a time. The columns of this grey Khorjin rug are built up knot row by knot row, so each motif sits in the same place in its column.
Lamb’s wool forms the pile of this grey Khorjin rug, and the wider medallion bands at the top and bottom give it a clear frame.
Sizing a grey Khorjin rug for your room
At 204 x 155 cm the rug is under 2.6 m long, so place it in front of a sofa where the front legs of the sofa and two armchairs rest on it around a coffee table. Its 155 cm width is a little wider than a queen bed’s 153 cm, so it suits a living room better than the foot of a bed.
With an area of about 3.2 square metres, the rug suits timber floors and white or grey walls, where the blue and red motifs read clearly. Keep the furniture low-key around it so the motifs stay the focus of the room.
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 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.
Browse more Khorjin Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Afghan rugs.
