Blue Abshari Rug
This blue Abshari rug was knotted by hand in Afghanistan from wool and bamboo silk, and our records note vegetable dyes. It measures 236 x 171 cm, or about 4.0 square metres. The field is turquoise, with red medallions down the centre giving the rug a warm contrast.
The design up close
Two tall medallions sit one above the other down the centre of this blue Abshari rug. Each is drawn as a hooked diamond in red, outlined in purple and cream. Angled pointed motifs in teal, purple and cream flank them on either side, and small red, green and cream squares repeat in rows between the medallions, so the centre column reads as a tight, ordered strip.
A broad red band with rows of orange and cream rosettes forms the outer border, set between darker red edges. A thin green and cream line runs along the inside of the border. The turquoise field of this blue Abshari rug stays open between the motifs, so the red and purple shapes read clearly on it.
Afghan rugs and their designs
Afghan rugs are hand knotted on a loom, one knot at a time, and they more often carry bold geometric and tribal designs than curving floral ones. The hooked diamonds and angled motifs here are a geometric repeat, set in the same order across the centre. Thick wool and patterned fields hide everyday wear, so Afghan rugs suit family rooms, entrances and hallways.
How it is made
The pile of this blue Abshari rug is wool and bamboo silk, and our records note vegetable dyes. Hand knotting builds each medallion outline one knot at a time, so the red shapes are formed stitch by stitch rather than printed onto the surface. Bamboo silk needs gentler handling than wool, which is why the cleaning advice below includes one extra point.
Sizing this blue Abshari rug in your room
At 236 x 171 cm the rug covers about 4.0 square metres. A sofa of around 2.2 m can rest its front legs on it, with two armchairs doing the same around a coffee table. In a dining room it suits a table of about 180 x 90 cm, leaving 28 cm of rug past each end and 40.5 cm along each side. A blue Abshari rug this size works best where the red medallions can be seen from the seating, and the turquoise ground stands out against a pale floor.
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. Rubbing spills can dull bamboo silk, and it needs a cleaner who handles that fibre 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 blue Abshari 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 Afghan rugs.
