Red Hand Knotted Khorjin Rug
This red hand knotted Khorjin rug was made by Afghan artisans in lamb’s wool and measures 228 x 175 cm. Its reddish ground and patterns in cream, navy, gold and green give it a transitional and tribal look.
The design up close
A row of octagonal medallions runs across the middle of the rug, in red, cream, navy, gold and green. Each one is outlined in a contrasting colour, so the row reads clearly against the red ground. Above and below, bands of small diamond motifs in cream and navy repeat along the length.
Narrow stripes in orange, red and blue run between the bands, so the field has many fine lines rather than one broad colour. Across this red hand knotted Khorjin rug, the lines give the red a lively, layered look. The bands are spaced evenly, so the rug has a steady rhythm from one end to the other.
From saddlebag to rug
This style takes its name from the Khorjin, the woven saddlebag of the region. A Khorjin is a pair of woven bags joined together and carried over a horse or donkey, traditionally decorated with geometric patterns.
Hand knotted tribal rugs in this style carry that geometric decoration across the whole field, as this one does.
How it is made
Each knot in this red hand knotted Khorjin rug was tied by hand on a loom, and the pile was then sheared level. Each knot is tied separately, so a repair can be made without disturbing the rest of the rug. The design shows clearly on the back, with the small irregularities that handwork leaves.
Hand knotted tribal rugs are built up one knot at a time, so the pattern is laid out evenly across the field.
Sizing your Red Hand Knotted Khorjin Rug
At 228 by 175 cm, the rug covers about 4.0 square metres. Under a dining table of about 180 x 90 cm, it leaves roughly 24 cm of rug at each end, so the table sits fully on the rug. A three-seat sofa of about 2.2 m would be almost the full length of the rug, so it suits a dining room or a smaller seating group. Before you decide, mark the rug’s outline on the floor with masking tape, and walk around it to see how it sits in the room.
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
Colours look different under shop lights, daylight and lamplight, so the showroom is the best place to judge the reds and navy.
Visit our showroom at 307 Penshurst St, North Willoughby, open every day from 11 am to 4:30 pm, to see this red hand knotted Khorjin 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 Khorjin Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Afghan rugs.
