Reddish Striped Khorjin Rug
This reddish striped Khorjin rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan in lamb’s wool and measures 195 x 153 cm, about 3.0 square metres. Thin horizontal stripes in red, rust, blue, teal and gold run the length of the field, with a central band of diamond medallions and octagon medallions at each end.
The design up close
Stripes run the full length of the rug in red, rust, blue, teal, gold and cream. Some bands carry small motifs, and others are plain colour. Across the middle, a horizontal band of diamond medallions in red, blue, teal and cream runs from side to side, each with a small cross at its centre.
The top and bottom bands carry octagon medallions in red, orange, blue and cream on a warm background, with smaller geometric motifs between them. Thin rows of small diamonds separate these bands from the stripes. A short fringe finishes both ends.
The stripes are fine and close together, so from a distance the field reads as a soft mix of red and blue, and up close each stripe shows its own colour. In this reddish striped Khorjin rug the blue stripes sit between the red ones, which keeps the red from taking over.
From saddlebag to rug
The Khorjin is the woven saddlebag of the region, a pair of bags joined together and carried over an animal’s back. Its geometric decoration is the model for Khorjin designs, which carry the same geometry across the whole field in many colours.
How it is made
Each knot in this reddish striped Khorjin rug was tied by hand on a loom, and the stripes were built up row by row, so every colour change follows the knot rows.
The wool is lamb’s wool. The medallion bands at each end are worked in the same knots as the stripes.
Sizing a reddish striped Khorjin rug for your room
At 195 x 153 cm the rug is under 2.6 m long, so place it in front of a sofa with the front legs of the sofa and two armchairs resting on it around a coffee table. Its 153 cm width matches a queen bed, so it can run across the foot of a queen bed, with the 1.95 m length running out into the room.
The area is about 3.0 square metres. The stripes suit a family room or a bedroom with pale walls, where they can sit against a neutral background, and the medallion bands add weight at each end.
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 reddish 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.
