A bold madder-red medallion commands the centre of this rug — a stepped, hooked diamond holding a vertical chain of smaller star-and-rosette medallions in blue, gold and ivory. Around it spreads a deep indigo field scattered with rows of boteh (paisley) motifs and small blossoms, with red comb-and-candle motifs lining the inner field. A wide camel-gold border of botehs and serrated leaves, framed by ivory running-leaf guard stripes and an outer rosette band, completes a richly layered tribal composition.
Hand-knotted in Afghanistan in the Persian tribal manner, it is woven from hand-spun wool with a firm, even pile and finished with flat-woven kilim ends. The madder red, indigo and camel are natural-dye tones whose depth and subtle variation are the hallmark of genuine vegetable dyes.
Medallion-and-boteh rugs like this carry centuries of nomadic design language in a single piece. Densely woven and built to last for generations, it makes a commanding centrepiece for a living or dining room and a true collector's heirloom. As a hand-made rug, it is one of a kind.
- Origin: Afghanistan
- Tradition: Persian tribal medallion with boteh field
- Type: Afghani Sherwan, hand-knotted
- Material: 100% hand-spun wool, natural dyes
- Pile: Firm, hand-clipped, with kilim ends
- Size: 210×319cm (Large)
- Colour: Indigo field with a madder-red medallion
- SKU: AFGP 313115
- One-of-a-kind: yes