Grey Medallion Kazak Rug
This grey medallion Kazak rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan in lamb’s wool and measures 166 x 101 cm. Three main medallions run down a pale beige-grey field, with orange and red at the centre and pale blue-grey and cream at each end. Our records note natural dyes.
The design up close
The centre medallion is a diamond in orange and red with a cream outline. A pale blue-grey medallion sits above it and another below, and small red and orange motifs fill the spaces between them. The pale ground keeps the warm colours from crowding one another. The pale blue-grey medallions are among the lightest tones on the rug, so they catch the eye first.
Across this grey medallion Kazak rug, the border is a band of navy, red, brown and cream stripes with tiny geometric motifs, which frames the field firmly. The medallions stand out against the quiet ground.
Where Kazak designs come from
Kazak rugs take their name from the Kazak (Gazakh) district of the southern Caucasus, on the borders of today’s Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. Weavers there made thick, boldly coloured rugs with large geometric medallions, stars and hooked motifs in deep reds, blues and ivory. Weavers in Afghanistan and Pakistan have since revived those designs, and this grey medallion Kazak rug keeps the medallion layout in a softer palette.
How it is made
This grey medallion Kazak rug is double hand knotted, so each knot was tied by hand on a loom and wrapped around a pair of warp threads.
Turn the rug over and the design shows on the back, with the small irregularities that handwork leaves.
Sizing your Grey Medallion Kazak Rug
At 166 by 101 cm, the rug covers about 1.7 square metres. It is shorter than a six-seat dining table of about 180 cm, so it suits a smaller table or a sitting area within a larger room. Its length is 13 cm more than a queen bed is wide (153 cm), so it can sit at the foot of a queen bed. Before you decide, mark the rug’s outline on the floor with masking tape, and walk around it to see how it sits.
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
Our showroom has several Kazak rugs for you to compare with this one, so you can judge the grey tones in person. Colours look different under shop lights, daylight and lamplight, so check the warm colours against the grey ground.
Visit our showroom at 307 Penshurst St, North Willoughby, open every day from 11 am to 4:30 pm, to see this grey medallion Kazak 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 Kazak Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Caucasian and Kazak rugs.
