Red Striped Khorjin Rug
This red striped Khorjin rug was double hand-knotted in Afghanistan in lamb’s wool and measures 203 x 159 cm, about 3.2 square metres. Deep red fills the field, with rows of small green, cream, blue and orange motifs laid in horizontal bands, inside a border of medallions in blue, gold and cream.
The design up close
The field is a deep red ground. Across it run horizontal rows of small tree and flower motifs in green, cream, blue, orange and rust, and thin wavy bands in cream and orange separate one tier from the next. The motifs are spaced evenly, so the field has a steady rhythm from end to end.
The top and bottom ends carry a wide band of octagon medallions in blue, cream, red and gold, with small geometric motifs between them. Narrow guard bands of diamonds and triangles separate these from the field, and a short fringe finishes each end.
The rows of motifs give the central field its stripes, and the medallions give the ends their weight. In this red striped Khorjin rug the blue and gold accents draw the eye to the ends and then back into the field.
From saddlebag to rug
A Khorjin is a pair of woven bags joined together and carried over a horse or donkey, traditionally decorated with geometric patterns. The Khorjin design takes up that look across the whole field, and this rug spreads the geometry into rows of small motifs.
How it is made
Weavers in Afghanistan tie each knot by hand on a loom, one knot at a time. This red striped Khorjin rug is double hand-knotted, and each row of motifs was built up in turn.
Our records note natural dyes. The wool is lamb’s wool, and the red ground is the colour that carries most of the rug.
Sizing a red striped Khorjin rug for your room
At 203 x 159 cm the rug is under 2.6 m long, so it suits a living room where the front legs of a sofa and two armchairs rest on it around a coffee table. The 159 cm width is a little wider than the 153 cm of a queen bed, so it fits a family room or living room more easily than the foot of a bed.
With an area of about 3.2 square metres, this rug suits a room with pale walls, where the red and blue read clearly. The rows of small motifs stay legible from across 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
Visit our showroom at 307 Penshurst St, North Willoughby, open every day from 11 am to 4:30 pm, to see this red striped 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.
