Violet Mamluk Rug
This violet Mamluk rug was hand knotted in Afghanistan in lamb’s wool and measures 194 x 155 cm. Its field is a light turquoise and blue-grey, with a red-wine star medallion in the centre. A deep plum-red border with a turquoise outer edge frames the whole rug. The medallion is the largest shape, and its orange rosettes pull warm tones into the turquoise field.
The design of this violet Mamluk rug
The centre medallion is a star-shaped outline in red wine, with a smaller octagon inside it in cream and orange. Orange rosettes with red centres sit above and below it, and smaller orange rosettes line the sides. The field carries fine geometric motifs in red, cream and blue-grey.
On this violet Mamluk rug, the plum-red border is patterned with small turquoise and cream motifs. A narrow cream line separates it from the field, and a thin turquoise edge runs along the outside.
Along the top and bottom edges the border motifs are smaller and more closely spaced, so the rug finishes neatly at each end. The fringe is striped in several colours, which echoes the palette. The turquoise and blue-grey tones are mixed in fine lines, so the colour looks lighter in some places than in others.
Where Mamluk rugs come from
The Mamluks ruled Egypt and Syria from 1250 to 1517, and the carpets woven in Cairo from the late 15th century, and into the 16th, are known for their kaleidoscopic designs. Their medallions are built from octagons and stars that fill the whole rug. Weavers in Afghanistan revive these designs today, and this violet Mamluk rug follows that tradition.
How it is made
This violet Mamluk rug is hand knotted in Afghanistan from lamb’s wool. The medallion, field and border all sit in the same pile, so the colours meet along clean edges. The lines of the medallion show slight variation where each knot was placed by hand. The plum border runs the same length on each side, with the turquoise outer edge sitting at its very edge.
Sizing it for your room
At 194 x 155 cm this violet Mamluk rug covers about 3.0 square metres. It suits a seating area with a coffee table and armchairs, placed so the medallion sits in the middle of the group. It also works as an entrance rug or beside a bed, where the plum border can be seen from the doorway. Its 194 cm length is short for a dining table, so a seating group or a bedside spot suits it best.
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 violet 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.
