Orange Waziri Rug
This orange Waziri rug is double hand knotted in Afghanistan, in handspun wool, and measures 429 x 303 cm, about 13.0 square metres. Its rust-orange field carries rows of octagonal medallions in blue, ochre, cream and red, set inside a wide geometric border, so the colour is bold from edge to edge.
The design of this orange Waziri rug
Five columns of octagons run down the field, each one filled with a rosette or star motif in blue, red, ochre and cream. Small diamond and star shapes sit in the gaps where the octagons meet, in cream, ochre and blue. Because the octagons line up in columns and rows, the field reads as a grid of medallions rather than one central motif.
The border is built in several bands. The outer band carries small diamonds, triangles and stepped shapes in cream, blue and red, while a narrow ribbon of zigzags runs along the inside edge of the field. The short ends carry a row of the same small motifs, so the border turns the corners evenly.
Afghanistan and its weaving
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. Afghan rugs are hand knotted on a loom, one knot at a time. A rug this size, at about 13 square metres, can take a small team of weavers many months.
Afghan rugs belong to the wider family of handmade traditional rugs, and this orange Waziri rug sits within that group by its bold colour and its geometric layout.
How it is made
This orange Waziri rug is double hand knotted, so each knot is tied by hand on the loom and the pile is trimmed level afterwards. The wool is handspun. Our records note vegetable dyes, and the orange ground and the blue and ochre medallions share the same warm, earthy palette.
Sizing it for your room
At 429 x 303 cm the rug covers about 13.0 square metres. Under a sofa of around 2.2 m, about 104 cm of rug shows past each end, so a full lounge setting fits on it. Under a dining table of about 240 x 100 cm, the rug shows roughly 94 cm at each end and 101 cm along each side.
For a table of about 180 x 90 cm with six chairs, the margins grow to about 124 cm at each end and 106 cm along each side. This orange Waziri rug suits cream or grey walls, timber floors and neutral furniture, where the orange ground gives the room its warmth.
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 orange Waziri 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 Afghan Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Afghan rugs.
