Red Ziegler Afghan Rug
This red Ziegler Afghan rug was hand double knotted in Afghanistan in handspun lamb’s wool and measures 304 x 246 cm. A red field with a mottled, washed look carries brown floral motifs in an open, all-over layout, inside a border of narrow bands. Our records note vegetable dyes.
The design up close
Brown floral motifs are scattered across this red Ziegler Afghan rug in a loose, all-over pattern. Palmettes with curling leaves sit at intervals, and small rosettes and dotted flowers fill the spaces between them. A faint column of small flowers and dotted diamonds runs up the centre of the field.
Most of the motifs are dark brown, with some rose and cream highlights, so they stand out only a little from the red. The brown motifs are the darkest tone on the rug, and the rose highlights are the lightest. The field itself has a mottled texture, with lighter and darker patches across the red.
The border has a wide band of brown floral motifs set between thin guard stripes in red, rose and brown. Corner pieces hold larger rosettes and palmette-like flowers. The corners give each end of the rug a finished look.
Afghan weaving tradition
Afghanistan has a long weaving tradition, and some rugs made there today use hand-spun wool and natural dyes, which give them soft, lively colour. Afghan rugs are hand knotted on a loom, one knot at a time, and this red Ziegler Afghan rug belongs to that tradition. Their thick wool and patterned fields hide everyday wear, so Afghan rugs are a good choice for family rooms, entrances, hallways and dining rooms.
How it is made
Weavers tie every knot of this red Ziegler Afghan rug by hand, and the pile is double knotted. Because the wool is handspun, it has a soft sheen and a gentle variation in the yarn, which machine-spun wool does not have.
Sizing your red Ziegler Afghan rug
At 304 x 246 cm this red Ziegler Afghan rug covers about 7.5 square metres. A three-seat sofa of around 2.2 m placed on the long side leaves roughly 42 cm of rug past each end.
Under a dining table of about 180 x 90 cm, for six people, the rug shows roughly 62 cm at each end and 78 cm along each side. The red field suits cream, grey and timber furnishings, and the brown motifs work with wooden furniture. Its open field keeps the red from overwhelming a small 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 Ziegler Afghan 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 Afghan Rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about Ziegler carpets.
