Red and black handmade Afghan Fil Pai carpet with 18 fil pai /elephants foot motifs.
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Vendor:The Oriental Rug Merchant Ltd

Afghan Fil Pai carpet

£775.00

Rug Size: 284 x 194cm

Underlay to match the size of this rug

Buy Foxi Rug Underlay by rug size

Size: 300 x 215cm

£108.00

Add some homely comfort to your room with this cosy red and black handmade Afghan Fil Pai carpet. 

This richly coloured traditional Afghan carpet displays an iconic field pattern featuring a theme of 18 octagonal gul motifs arranged in a uniform manner of columns or rows. The field is surrounded by a multitude of patterned borders. 

Find out some more about this Afghan Fil Pai carpet

This Fil Pai design carpet was handmade in northern Afghanistan, in the vicinity of Aqcha. 

Traditionally, Afghan carpets were red and black rugs with field patterns of repeating motifs known as "guls". This Afghan carpet showcases an ancient and famous pattern. It shows the "Fil Pai" gul which is sometimes known as the elephant's foot motif. 

Afghan Aqcha carpets are known for their durability as well as their moderate price point. Usually, Aqcha rugs are woven with just two or three colours and with relatively large knotting. 

The materials in this red and black Afghan carpet

This Aqcha Fil Pai carpet was made from traditional carpet making fibres of wool and cotton. Historically, Afghan rugs from places like Aqcha and Chakesh were made entirely from wool. 

This Fil-Pai carpet has a woollen pile, which is hard wearing and practical in everyday use. For the warp threads, cotton has been used. Cotton is an excellent fibre for use as warp threads because of it's strength. The warps are the first yarns onto the loom before the carpet weaving starts. They are also the fringes that you see poking out from each end of the carpet. 

How this Aqcha carpet was made

Not only is the design and colours of this carpet traditional, but the way in which it was made is too. It was handmade by an age-old carpet making technique of hand-knotting. 

Hand-knotting is the best method of rug weaving, but it is time-consuming. On a hand-knotted carpet every tuft of pile is made from a knot tied onto pairs of warp threads. The knotting is carried out in rows across the width of the loom. Once the row of knotting is completed the weavers weave a number of weft threads between the warps, which are then compacted together. All of the meticulously tied coloured knots combine to make the pattern of the carpet. 

Using this red and black carpet in your home

This traditionally made Afghan carpet will give you years of service and pleasure wherever you decide to lay it. The wool pile provides luxury as well as practicality for everyday use.

Consider using a rug underlay beneath it; this will help guard against colour transfer to fitted carpeting beneath as well as keeping the Afghan carpet in place.

Key details:

  • Country of origin: Afghanistan
  • Size: 284×194cm / 9’4″x6’4″ 
  • Thickness: 10mm
  • Pile: Wool, hand-knotted
  • Warp: Cotton
  • Age: New

 

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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.