Red Sarasar Khorjin Rug
This red Sarasar Khorjin rug was made by Afghan artisans in lamb’s wool and measures 242 x 175 cm. Its red base carries fine lines in sky blue, emerald green, gold and orange.
The design up close
Horizontal bands run the full length of the rug. Wide bands of small geometric motifs in red, cream, navy and green alternate with narrow stripes in blue, gold and green, so the eye moves up and down the field as it travels along the rug.
The red ground stays strong between the bands, so the rug reads as one warm colour from across the room. Up close, the motifs are small and evenly repeated, and that repetition gives the red Sarasar Khorjin rug its order. Each band holds its motifs at a steady size, so the pattern looks even from one end to the other.
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. This red Sarasar Khorjin rug, with its bands of geometric motifs, follows that tradition in a striped layout.
Handmade tribal rugs of this kind keep a clear, repeating order from one edge to the other.
How it is made
This red Sarasar Khorjin rug is double hand knotted, so each knot is tied by hand and wrapped around two warp threads. On a hand knotted rug the design shows clearly on the back, with small irregularities where each knot was tied.
Our records note natural dyes. The wool is lamb’s wool, which gives the pile a soft feel.
Sizing your Red Sarasar Khorjin Rug
At 242 by 175 cm, the rug covers about 4.2 square metres. A three-seat sofa of about 2.2 m leaves about 11 cm of rug past each end, so the front legs of the sofa and chairs can sit on it. Under a dining table of about 180 x 90 cm, the rug shows roughly 31 cm at each end, which leaves room for the chairs. 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 ask us to show you other tribal rugs in the showroom to compare with this one.
Visit our showroom at 307 Penshurst St, North Willoughby, open every day from 11 am to 4:30 pm, to see this red Sarasar 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.
