Red Afghan Kazak Rug
This red Afghan Kazak rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan in lamb’s wool and measures 200 x 152 cm. A red field carries rows of rosette medallions in cream, blue, orange and navy, and a cream border with red and navy motifs frames it. Our records note German dyes.
The design up close
The field is arranged in staggered columns of rosette medallions in cream, blue, orange and navy. Small stars and crosses fill the gaps between them, so the red ground shows in every direction. Each column is spaced evenly down the length of the rug.
The border is cream, with bands of red and navy motifs that run in a steady repeat along each side. The repetition makes a strong frame for the busy red field, and the red Afghan Kazak rug reads as one unified design.
Kazak rugs and where their designs come from
Kazak rugs revive the bold geometric designs first woven in the Caucasus. The name comes 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. In recent decades, weavers in Afghanistan and Pakistan have revived these designs, so the old patterns live on in new Kazak rugs made to last.
How a red Afghan Kazak rug is made
Our records note double knotting done by hand. Each knot was tied on the loom, so the design shows on the back and the knots vary slightly. The pile is lamb’s wool. The red field and cream border are both worked in the same wool, so the rug reads as one piece.
Busy geometric designs hide everyday wear, so a red Afghan Kazak rug suits living rooms, family rooms, entrances and hallways. Its red ground sits well with timber floors and with traditional or modern furniture.
Sizing it for your room
At 200 x 152 cm the rug covers about 3 square metres. Its length is 2 m, so the front legs of a sofa and two armchairs can rest on it around a coffee table. This red Afghan Kazak rug also works in a family room or a bedroom. A dining table of 180 x 90 cm would leave about 10 cm of rug at each end and 31 cm along each side, so the chairs would sit partly off it. Bring your furniture measurements to the showroom and we will check the fit with you.
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 red Afghan 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.
