Red Traditional Abshari Rug
This red traditional Abshari rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan in New Zealand wool and measures 231 x 163 cm. A large octagonal medallion sits at the centre of a red field, with cream, blue and gold drawn around it and a wide cream and blue border.
The medallion and corner pieces are the focus, and the border frames them on every side.
Every part of the rug is knotted, so the medallion, corners and border are all formed by the same pile.
The design up close
On this red traditional Abshari rug, the central medallion has a cream outline and rings of blue and gold inside it, with a small gold and blue star at its heart. Gold and blue quarter medallions sit in the corners of the field, and triangles in blue, cream and red fill the spaces between the central medallion and the corners.
Above and below the medallion, a band of stylised tree motifs in orange, blue and cream runs across the red field. The border is wide and cream, with a blue grey interlocking key pattern, and a narrow blue outer band carries small orange motifs.
Blue and gold appear in every medallion, so the colours repeat through the whole field.
Orange tree motifs in the band echo the orange of the narrow blue outer band.
The stylised tree motifs are small and repeat evenly across the width, so they read as a pattern band.
Afghan weaving
Afghan rugs are hand knotted on a loom, one knot at a time, and they more often carry bold geometric and tribal designs. This red traditional Abshari rug pairs a medallion layout with that bold colour, set on a red ground.
The layout of this red traditional Abshari rug is symmetrical from side to side.
How it is made
Our records note German dyes. This red traditional Abshari rug is hand knotted, and its New Zealand wool pile is knotted in place, so the medallion outline and the border key pattern are formed by rows of knots. Each colour is knotted into the pile.
Sizing your Red Traditional Abshari Rug
At 231 x 163 cm the rug covers about 3.8 square metres. Its 2.31 m length puts it in the range where the front legs of a sofa and two armchairs can rest on it around a coffee table. Lay it so the central medallion sits centred under the table, which keeps the pattern symmetrical around the seating.
At the foot of a queen bed, 153 cm wide, the 231 cm length runs about 39 cm past each side.
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 traditional Abshari 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 Traditional, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Afghan rugs.
