Ersari Afghan Rug 214 × 293 cm - 7.0 × 9.6 ft – Wool, Vintage
Hand-knotted Ersari rug from northern Afghanistan, made in the 1970s. Eight octagonal güls on a red brown ground, pile and foundation in new wool, approx. 160,000 knots per m². Full pile, very good condition, freshly washed.
Pattern and Colour Structure
The field carries eight large güls in four rows of two – the octagonal, almost square tribal motifs that define the Turkmen rug. Each gül is divided into four quadrants and filled with hooked cross forms, small diamonds and zigzag patterns in dark blue, ivory and rust red. Small cruciform motifs sit between the güls and hold the grid together.
The ground is a warm red brown that shifts slightly in depth towards the edges. Brown, dark blue and a muted green serve as secondary colours. The palette stays narrow – no contrast pushes forward, and the effect comes from the repetition of the motif and the depth of the ground.
What stands out is the border system: five bands frame the field and together take up almost half the total surface. The broadest is a compartment band of individually coloured panels in light blue, ivory, ochre and brown, each set with a star rosette. Further bands with zigzag patterns and small flower stars accompany it. This unusually broad framing is characteristic of Ersari work.
Origin and Construction
The Ersari are one of the Turkmen tribes; their territory lies in the steppe between Merv to the west, Mazar-i-Sharif to the south-east and Bukhara to the north. This rug was knotted in the border region of northern Afghanistan. It is worked wool on wool – pile, warp and weft are all sheep's wool, the older and more original construction of the Turkmen weavers. The density is around 160,000 knots per m², and the pile stands short and fully intact at about 8 mm. Fringes and selvedges are sound, and the rug has been freshly washed.
Where It Works
At 214 × 293 cm (6.27 m², approx. 7.0 × 9.6 ft) the rug suits the following situations:
Living room: under the entire seating group, with all furniture legs on the rug
Dining room: under a table for six, with room for chairs pushed back
Bedroom: under the bed, with an even margin on three sides
Open-plan rooms: to mark off the living area from the rest of the space
Specifications
Provenance
Ersari, northern Afghanistan
Age
1970s
Design
Ersari gül, octagonal
Material (pile)
100 % new wool
Material (warp/weft)
100 % wool
Nominal size
200 x 300 cm (approx. 7 x 10 ft)
Exact size
214 cm x 293 cm (7.0 ft x 9.6 ft, excl. fringes), 6.27 m²
Weave
Hand-knotted
Knot density
approx. 160,000 knots per m²
Pile height
approx. 8 mm (5/16 in)
Colours
Red brown, dark blue, brown, green, ivory
Shape
Rectangular
Use
Indoor
Condition
Vintage, very good condition, full pile, freshly washed
Care, cleaning and repair: Vacuum regularly in the direction of the pile, without a rotating brush. Blot spills rather than rubbing them. The rug is suitable for use over underfloor heating. For full cleaning and for work on fringes, selvedges or pile we offer rug wash and restoration.
