Red Wine Mamluk Rug
This red wine Mamluk rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan in lamb’s wool and measures 170 x 120 cm. Its deep wine-red field is framed by a wide slate grey-blue border with fine motifs.
The design up close
A pale blue-grey star medallion sits at the centre of this red wine Mamluk rug, with cream rings around it and a small red star inside. Medallions with pale blue centres sit at the top and bottom, and pale blue roundels, each framed in cream, stand at the sides. Between them, small cells carry lattice and rosettes in cream, rust and blue-grey. Each medallion is outlined in cream, so it stands out clearly from the deep red ground.
The grey-blue border is wide and carries fine motifs, and a thin red line runs between it and the field. Fringe finishes both short ends. The border’s fine motifs repeat in rows, so from a distance the band reads as a steady texture. The grey-blue band sits between the field and the outer edge, so the rug has a clear frame.
On this red wine Mamluk rug, pale blue-green and cream accents break up the deep field, so each medallion reads clearly. The pale tones sit beside the wine-red ground without harsh contrast, so the rug looks settled.
Where the Mamluk design comes from
The Mamluks ruled Egypt and Syria from 1250 to 1517. Carpets woven in Cairo from the late 15th century, and into the 16th, are known for medallions built from octagons, stars and small geometric shapes. Weavers in Afghanistan revive these designs today, in rugs such as this red wine Mamluk rug. The designs fill the field with many small cells, each holding its own motif.
How a red wine Mamluk rug is made
Each knot is tied by hand on a loom, row after row, and the pile is then sheared level. Our records note German dyes. Lamb’s wool gives the pile a soft hand that sits well underfoot.
Sizing it for your room
At 170 x 120 cm the rug covers about 2.0 square metres. Across the foot of a queen bed, 153 cm wide in Australia, its 170 cm length overhangs by about 8 to 9 cm on each side. In a bedroom, a red wine Mamluk rug this size sits well across the foot of the bed, where its wine-red field works with warm walls and timber furniture. Its warm tones also suit cream bedding. A rug this size also works in a hallway nook or in front of an armchair.
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 red wine Mamluk 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 Mamluk Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Mamluk carpets.
