Turquoise Mamluk Rug
This turquoise Mamluk rug was double hand knotted in Afghanistan in lamb’s wool and measures 182 x 124 cm. A wide turquoise border frames a rust and red-brown field, with orange and gold medallions set across it.
The design up close
The centre medallion of this turquoise Mamluk rug is turquoise, with an orange and gold star at its heart and a dark ring around it. Orange and gold medallions with blue rings sit at the top and bottom of the field, and similar roundels stand at the sides. Between them, small cells carry blue, orange and navy motifs on the rust ground. The star’s orange centre is the brightest point in the rug.
The turquoise border carries a repeating lattice of small dark navy motifs, and a thin red line sits at the outer edge. Short fringe finishes both ends. The navy motifs sit in pairs along the border, so it has a steady rhythm all the way round. A rug this size works best where its turquoise border can be seen from the doorway.
Our records note German dyes. On a turquoise Mamluk rug the border is the first thing the eye takes in, and the rust field sits behind the medallions. The orange and gold roundels pick up the tones of the star at the centre, so the colours repeat across the rug.
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, and this turquoise Mamluk rug keeps the central medallion and the cells around it.
How a turquoise Mamluk rug is made
Each knot is tied by hand on a loom, row after row, and the pile is then sheared level. The rug is double hand knotted in lamb’s wool, and the knots sit evenly in each row. The medallions keep clean edges as a result.
Sizing it for your room
At 182 x 124 cm the rug covers about 2.3 square metres. Across the foot of a queen bed, 153 cm wide in Australia, its 182 cm length overhangs by about 15 cm on each side. In a living room, a turquoise Mamluk rug of this size sits well in front of an armchair, with the chair’s front legs on its rust field. A turquoise border looks best against a plain floor or neutral walls. Its rust field sits well with warm timber and cream or white walls.
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 turquoise 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.
