Slate Grey Khorjin Rug
This slate grey Khorjin rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan in wool and measures 292 x 205 cm, about 6.0 square metres. The field is a soft slate grey crossed by horizontal bands of red, green, cream and rust, so the bold colours stand out against the cool ground.
The design up close
The top and bottom sections each hold a band of elongated hexagonal medallions with small star or cross motifs at their centres, in green, rust, cream and red. Rows of tiny diamonds and dots run above and below them. Through the middle of the rug, the grey stripes are plainer, with fine rows of tiny red and blue dots and small squares between thin rust lines.
A narrow outer border of cream, rust and grey carries small diamond motifs. This slate grey Khorjin rug has bold medallion bands at both ends and quieter stripes between them, which gives the rug a clear rhythm from one end to the other. The bands at each end balance one another, so the rug looks settled from either end of the room.
Khorjin rugs and their name
Khorjin rugs take their name from the Khorjin, the woven saddlebag of the region. A Khorjin is a pair of woven bags joined together and carried over a horse or donkey, traditionally decorated with geometric patterns. Today’s Afghan Khorjin rugs take up that look across the whole field, and this one carries it in horizontal bands. This slate grey example keeps that colourful look while softening the base, so the bands stand out without overwhelming the room.
How it is made
This slate grey Khorjin rug is double hand knotted, so each knot is tied around two warp threads. The design shows clearly on the back of the rug, with slight irregularities that come from tying each knot by hand. Our records note vegetable dyes for this rug, and the pile is wool.
Sizing a slate grey Khorjin rug
This slate grey Khorjin rug covers about 6.0 square metres. A three-seat sofa of around 2.2 m leaves about 36 cm of rug showing past each end, so the sofa sits fully on the rug. In a dining room, a table of about 180 x 90 cm for six leaves roughly 56 cm of rug at each end and about 58 cm along each side. Busy patterns like this hide everyday wear, so the rug suits a family room or a hallway.
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 slate grey 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.
