Red Beljik Rug
This red beljik rug is double hand knotted in Afghanistan from lamb’s wool. It measures 246 x 165 cm, or about 4.1 square metres. The base of this red beljik rug is a deep red with indigo and ivory highlights, and the design is a repeated medallion pattern.
The design up close
A repeated medallion sits across the field of this red beljik rug, with indigo outlines and ivory highlights set against the red. The medallions line up in straight rows, with small indigo and ivory motifs filling the gaps between them. The repeat is regular from end to end, so the field reads as one pattern rather than a set of separate panels.
The border is indigo with small leaf-like motifs repeated along the sides, and a narrow ivory line separates it from the red field. The border frames the field without taking attention from the medallions, which stay the main feature of the rug. Along the sides the leaf motifs repeat at an even spacing, so the edge looks orderly from one end of the rug to the other.
Afghan rugs and their designs
Afghan rugs are hand knotted on a loom, one knot at a time. They more often carry bold geometric and tribal designs and a heavier, more relaxed feel than curving floral pieces, and this classic medallion layout suits that tradition. Their thick wool and patterned fields hide everyday wear, so these rugs are a good choice for family rooms and dining rooms.
Sizing this red beljik rug in your room
At 246 x 165 cm the rug covers about 4.1 square metres. Its length is just under 2.5 m, so a sofa of around 2.2 m can rest its front legs on it, and two armchairs can do the same around a coffee table. In a dining room it suits a table of about 180 x 90 cm, leaving 33 cm of rug past each end and 37.5 cm along each side. Lay this red beljik rug where the medallions can be seen from the seating.
How it is made
This red beljik rug is double hand knotted and made from lamb’s wool. Our records note German dyes. Hand knotting sets each medallion one knot at a time, so the indigo outlines and ivory highlights follow the weaver’s hand across the rug. The deep red ground carries the colour evenly from one medallion to the next. Each medallion sits on the same ground, so the pattern keeps one colour balance across the rug.
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 red beljik 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.
