Pale Ochre Bokhara Runner
This pale ochre Bokhara runner is hand knotted in New Zealand wool and measures 295 x 80 cm. Three cream medallions stand one above the other on a soft ochre field, linked by vines of leaves and buds, and a cream border carries rows of small brown flowers.
The design up close
Each medallion is lobed, with a cream outline and a deep brown and mauve centre. Pale green and blue-grey leaves sit inside the lobes, and small rust buds trail from the outer points.
Between the medallions, a vine of leaves and blossoms in green, cream and pink curls across the ochre ground. The vines turn back on themselves, so this pale ochre Bokhara runner has a steady rhythm from one end to the other.
The border is cream, with a band of small brown and rust flowers set in rows between thin brown stripes. The cream border and cream medallions share one tone, which ties the whole runner together. Fringe finishes both ends. The lobes of each medallion point towards the two ends of the runner, so the pattern seems to move along the length.
Bokhara designs and their name
Bokhara designs take their motifs from Turkmen tribal rugs. Rows of octagonal motifs called guls usually sit on a red ground in those rugs, and the pattern is often called Bokhara after the old trading city. This pale ochre Bokhara runner takes the Bokhara name, but its cream medallions sit on a soft ochre field instead of the red ground the classic guls usually use.
How this runner is made
Weavers tie each knot by hand on a loom, row after row, then shear the pile level. Turn the runner over and the design shows on the back too, with the small irregularities that only hand knotting leaves. Wool is soft and resilient, which suits a runner that gets daily use.
Sizing this pale ochre Bokhara runner
At 295 x 80 cm the runner covers about 2.4 square metres. It is a runner, so it suits a hallway, a kitchen galley or the floor beside a bed.
For a hallway, allow about 100 to 120 cm of width, which is the runner width plus 10 to 20 cm of floor on each side. At 2.95 m long, this pale ochre Bokhara runner suits a hallway of about that length. Its soft ochre ground sits well with timber and with cream or pale walls. Lay it so the medallions run the length of the hallway, so each one is seen in turn as you walk.
Looking after this runner
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 end to end every six to twelve months so foot traffic wears 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 runner sliding on timber or tiles, adds cushioning and takes some of the wear off the pile. Moths like wool in dark, quiet spots, so lift this pale ochre Bokhara runner now and then and vacuum the floor beneath it.
Because the border is cream, dust shows more readily along the edges, so a quick vacuum of the borders each week keeps them looking fresh.
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 pale ochre Bokhara 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 Runners, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Bokhara rugs.
