Red Khorjin Rug
This red Khorjin rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan from lamb’s wool and measures 238 x 173 cm. Rust and brick tones dominate, with blue-grey, green and ivory stripes running from side to side. The rug covers about 4.1 square metres.
The design of this red Khorjin rug up close
The field is built from horizontal stripes of different widths. Most carry a row of small diamonds, dots or hooked motifs in ivory, orange and red, and the stripes sit against one another in rust, navy, green and blue-grey. Near the top and bottom ends, a wider band holds a row of medallions in ivory, orange and red, with the largest ivory medallions set toward the corners.
The top and bottom ends carry the strongest pattern, while the middle of the rug is quieter, with thin stripes of small motifs. Several of the narrow stripes in this rug are darker, so the brighter rust stripes stand out against them. Fringe finishes both ends, and the long edges are framed by thin striped borders that echo the field.
From saddlebag to rug
Khorjin rugs take their 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. Traditional pieces use reds, blues and ivory. This red Khorjin rug uses those colours too, with rust, orange and blue-grey added. Their busy, colourful patterns hide everyday wear and bring energy to a room, so Khorjin rugs suit hallways, children’s rooms, family rooms and runners for stairs and corridors.
How this red Khorjin rug is made
Afghan rugs are hand knotted on a loom, one knot at a time. A room-size rug can take a small team of weavers many months. This red Khorjin rug is hand knotted in lamb’s wool. Khorjin rugs from Afghanistan are made in thick, hard-wearing wool, and this one is made from lamb’s wool.
Sizing it for your room
At 238 x 173 cm, this red Khorjin rug is about 2.4 m long, which suits a lounge. The front legs of a sofa and two armchairs can rest on it around a coffee table. Under a dining table of about 180 x 90 cm, it leaves roughly 29 cm of rug at each end and about 41 cm along each side. Rust and orange tones suit timber floors. Set the coffee table on the rug so the striped design sits within the seating area.
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 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.
