Red Super Kazak Rug
This red Super Kazak rug was double hand knotted in Afghanistan in lamb wool and measures 307 x 248 cm, about 7.6 square metres. A deep red field carries five rows of large medallions in cream, lilac and grey, and a wide cream border is worked with gold, red and grey motifs.
The design up close
Each row of this red Super Kazak rug holds three medallions. The middle medallion of each row is a little taller than the outer two, which sit wide on the field. The rows repeat down the length of the rug, giving the field a steady, stepped pattern.
Between the rows, smaller diamond and rosette motifs in cream, blue and grey fill the red ground, with small star shapes scattered in the gaps. Each large medallion has a dark outline, and the lilac and grey tones inside them soften the red around them. The cream medallions are the lightest shapes on the rug, so they pull the eye across the field from row to row.
The border is wide and cream, with small motifs in gold, red and grey repeated along each side. Narrow guard bands separate it from the field, and a red outer band finishes the rug, and its red echoes the field.
Kazak rugs and their origins
Kazak rugs revive the bold geometric designs of the Caucasus in thick, hard-wearing wool. The name comes from the Kazak (Gazakh) district, where weavers made large geometric medallions and hooked motifs in deep reds, blues and ivory. In recent decades weavers in Afghanistan and Pakistan have revived these designs. Their thick wool and busy pattern hide everyday wear, so Kazak rugs suit family rooms and entrances.
How it is made
Our records note double hand knotting, so each knot in this red Super Kazak rug was tied by hand on a loom. The medallions show on the back as well, with the slight irregularities that hand tying leaves. Lamb wool gives the pile a soft surface.
Sizing this red Super Kazak rug
At 307 x 248 cm, this red Super Kazak rug covers about 7.6 square metres. A three-seat sofa of around 2.2 m leaves about 44 cm of rug past each end. Under a dining table of about 180 x 90 cm, the rug leaves roughly 64 cm at each end and 79 cm along each side. The strong red suits pale walls, timber floors and cream or grey upholstery. A rug of about this size suits a lounge with a three-seat sofa and two armchairs.
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 Super Kazak 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 Kazak Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Caucasian and Kazak rugs.
