Large old handwoven Afghan Kilim with all over design of browns, orange, navy and black.
A rectangular geometric large old handwoven Afghan Kilim in dark brown, rust orange, and navy blue, shown flat against a white background.
A 14x9 large old handwoven Afghan Kilim with a geometric pattern in shades of brown, tan, and black, shown on a plain white background.
A rectangular 4x3m large old handwoven Afghan Kilim in dark brown, rust orange, and black, shown flat against a white background.
A close-up of a large old handwoven Afghan Kilim with a geometric diamond pattern in rust orange, brown, and dark navy blue.
A close-up of a woven Afghan Kilim rug with a geometric tribal pattern in rust orange, dark navy blue, black, and brown.
A close-up of a woven Afghan kilim rug showing its geometric tribal pattern in shades of rust orange, dark brown, and navy blue.
A close-up of a woven Afghan Kilim rug with a geometric zigzag and diamond pattern in rust orange, dark brown, and navy blue.
A close-up of a hand woven Kilim with a geometric block pattern in rust orange, dark brown, black, and navy blue.
A close-up of a handwoven Afghan Ghalmari Kilim rug corner showing geometric patterns in dark brown, rust orange, and navy blue with fringed edges on a white background.
Close-up of the back corner of large old handwoven Afghan Ghalmouri Kilim with geometric motifs in rust orange, dark blue, brown, and charcoal gray, showing visible weave texture and a frayed edge.

Vendor:The Oriental Rug Merchant Ltd

Large old handwoven Afghan Kilim

£1,295.00

Rug Size: 428 x 279cm

This is an impressive large size handwoven Afghan Kilim in earthy tones of brown and orange. It displays a traditional geometric pattern with an all over theme.

It's a decent size, measuring 428x279cm which translates to approximately 14x9. 

Where is this large old handwoven Afghan Kilim from?

This 14x9 Kilim rug was handmade in Afghanistan. It was woven in the vicinity of Maimana in north-west Afghanistan. Maimana is the capital and market town of Faryab province. Maimana is like the "capital of Kilims" in Afghanistan as it has historically been the collecting-point and bazaar for Kilims woven in the surrounding area. 

This type of Kilim is known in the trade as Ghalmari (there are various spellings). Often, these Kilims were woven in large sizes.  The colours are quite distinctive in this type of Kilim with usually plenty of orange with browns, madder reds and blues. 

How was it made?

This brown and orange Kilim rug would most likely have been woven on a vertical loom by three weavers.

The colours and design of the Kilim are created by the weavers weaving coloured woollen weft threads in blocks of colour. When you look closely at our photos, you can see the weavers have used a couple of flat weaving techniques. The weave is mainly "interlocking" or "dovetailed". This means that where the different colour blocks meet, the two colours share the same warp thread. In the border area (the narrow borders) you can see a slightly different technique. Here, where the two colours meet there is a small gap in the weave - and this is known as "slit weave".

Handwoven from wool

Like most Afghan Kilim rugs, this large size Kilim is made entirely from sheep wool both for the warps and wefts. You can see the woollen warps as they are also the rug's fringes. In Ghalmari (Ghalmouri) Kilims this is typically a dark brown shade. 

This is an old or vintage Kilim 

This large Afghan Kilim dates from around the 1960s/1970s. It is a superb quality in terms of fineness of weaving and it has aged beautifully. As you can see from the photos, it is in excellent condition. 

We like these old Kilims because they were not woven for export, and most likely woven for domestic use. You can't get more authentic than that. 

How to keep it looking great...

It's only natural that you will want to keep this old Afghan Kilim looking it's best. Kilims are remarkably durable. Simply vacuum it on a weekly basis and pop an anti-slip rug underlay under it to hold it firmly in place. 

Key details:

  • Country of origin: Afghanistan
  • Size: 428×279cm / 14’1″x9’2″ 
  • Thickness: 3mm
  • Warp: Wool
  • Weft: Wool
  • Age: Dating from the 1960s/70s

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Frequently asked questions about Afghan rugs

Oriental rugs are renowned for their longevity and can often last for generations. 

I’d like to buy it, is the rug shown the rug I’ll get? 

Yes, all of our rugs are handmade and the vast majority are one-of-a-kind. This is the exact rug you will receive. No substitutions.

I’m interested in this rug, but would like to see it before I decide – can I come and see it at your shop? 

Of course! All of the rugs displayed and shown as in stock on our website are available to view and buy in-store.

How quickly will I receive my rug and how much does delivery cost? 

We aim to dispatch our Rugs as quickly as possible. Deliveries in the UK are generally achieved in 2-3 working days. Within the UK there is no carriage charge for rugs.

I’m not located in the UK, will you send it to destinations outside of the UK?

Please contact us, referencing which rug you would like to buy and your delivery address to find out shipping costs.

How long will my rug last? 

Hand-knotted Rugs and Handwoven Rugs are extremely long-lasting items. If properly looked after Oriental Rugs can outlive their owner and maybe even last for generations. In many cases rugs improve with age.

Will the colours of my rug fade? 

Handmade Oriental rugs will soften in colour over time. Of course, like any textile, if the rug is used in an area of strong sunlight, such as in a Conservatory for instance, the fading process will be more rapid. During days of strong sunshine, it is good practice to draw the curtains or blinds to keep your Oriental rug looking at its best.

Will the colours transfer onto the flooring underneath? 

This is a tricky one to answer! If only we had a crystal ball! There is a risk. Our rugs are all handmade and made with artisan dyes. All of our rugs are thoroughly washed prior to export and any excess dye should come out in the washing process. However, on the odd occasion, the dye can still sometimes transfer. This phenomenon is increased by humidity and temperature, and is regrettably irreversible. If you are concerned about this possibility, perhaps consider using an Underlay to put a barrier between the rug and the flooring/fitted carpet underneath.

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How do I care for my Afghan Rug

They are easy to care for, but here’s a few helpful pointers to keep your new Afghan rug looking great: 

Vacuum

Hoover it regularly – perhaps once a week. This is good practice as tiny dirt particles can cause premature wear. Vacuum it with just the nozzle suction, as rotating brushes can be abrasive. Try to keep the vacuum cleaner away from the fringes as this is probably the weakest point on an Oriental rug; fringes and vacuum cleaners don’t mix!

Rotate 

It is a good idea to rotate your Afghan rug on occasion. This will help prevent areas of concentrated wear. Foot shuffling when watching the TV is a prime culprit! Rotating your rug will also help to even-out any incremental changes in colour from exposure to sunlight.

Blot

Any spills should be blotted immediately: blot with kitchen towel or clean un-dyed absorbent cloth; avoid rubbing or scrubbing which can spread the spill or push the spill deeper into the rug.

Use a Rug Underlay

A good rug underlay will keep the rug in place, thereby preventing uneven wear and will help the rug keep from going out of shape.

Professional Cleaning

This is something that is required infrequently, perhaps every 3-5 years depending on use. Please contact us if you would like to have your rug cleaned as we offer a Rug Cleaning Service.