Antique Belouch prayer rug circa 1900, camel colour field with mihrab and hand panels, along with colours of rust-red and midnight blue-black.
A traditional rectangular Afghan-style antique Belouch prayer rug with a dark red border, a central beige field, and dark red paisley and geometric motifs, shown flat against a white background.
A rectangular Belouch style Afghan prayer rug with a traditional geometric and floral pattern in shades of red, brown, and beige, shown on a plain white background.
A rectangular handmade antique Belouch prayer rug with a traditional geometric and floral pattern, featuring a central mihrab design in red, brown, and beige tones, photographed flat against a white background.
A close-up of a antique Baluchi prayer rug featuring diagonal bands with intricate geometric and paisley (boteh) motifs in dark red, black, and warm terracotta tones.
A close-up of a patterned antique Afghan Belouch prayer rug showing geometric and tribal-inspired motifs in deep red, terracotta, black, and beige.
Close-up of a patterned Antique Belouch prayer rug with woven bands in rust red, dark brown, and beige, showing detailed textile texture and geometric motifs.
A close-up of a worn antique Belouch prayer rug corner showing red, black, and beige woven borders with geometric and floral motifs and a short fringe along the bottom edge.
A close-up of a worn out patterned Belouch antique rug corner showing a dark red and black geometric design with cream fringe on a white background.
A close-up of the wear on a patterned Afghan Belouch antique rug with geometric tribal designs in red, black, and cream, showing the detailed woven texture and fringe on one side.
Close-up of the hand-knotted weave of an Antique Belouch prayer rug with a metal L-square ruler placed over it to show scale of the knotting, showing a woven rug in rust orange, red, and dark brown/black tones.

Vendor:The Oriental Rug Merchant Ltd

Antique Belouch prayer rug

£595.00

Rug Size: 189 x 99cm

Underlay to match the size of this rug

Foxi Rug Underlay 90cm width roll

Size: D - 2 metres

£30.00

Brimming with history, this antique Belouch prayer rug is the sort of rug that you can pop down and it will look like it has always been there. This antique rug is ideally suited for use in a period property, and will probably appeal to someone with a home packed with antiquities and curiosities. 

Find out some more about this Antique Belouch prayer rug

This rug dates from the early Twentieth century. It hails from near to Herat in north west Afghanistan. Historically, the Belouch of Afghanistan were prolific makers of Prayer rugs. 

This is a glorious prayer rug consisting of a superbly balanced composition of ancient symbols and mature colours. The colours are traditional and exquisite. It features a camel coloured field colour along with rust-red, midnight blue/black, brown and small touches of white. 

The design is typical of Belouch prayer rugs in that it is asymmetrical with a rectangular mihrab. The mihrab is flanked on each side by a hand panel (each is adorned with a hand motif). Some eagle-eyed viewers might spot that one hand has five fingers and a thumb! The field is decorated with a central totemic pole with hooks protruding from each side and this is flanked by a column of boteh (paisley-like) motifs - an ancient emblem found across Afghanistan and Persia. 

The condition of this antique Belouch rug

This prayer rug has low pile all over it consistent with its age.

It doesn't have any holes, but the bottom section of the rug has considerably lower/thinner pile than the remainder (see images 8, 9 & 10). Looking at it closely, the dark wool in this area has corroded with age. The wool in this area was perhaps from an earlier dye lot (dyed before the wool in the majority of the rug), hence the reason it has aged differently.

Technically this is known as "abrash". Abrash is the name for when the colour changes because the wool used came from a different dye lot. Sometimes it can occur from different dye concoctions or from a different wool batch that was spun differently. 

Using this antique Afghan rug in your home

Like all of our old and antique rugs, this Belouch rug has been expertly washed to make it ready for use or display in your home. 

This is a rug a lightweight rug which is over 100 years old. It is not suitable for areas of high foot traffic, and wherever you decide to position it, it should be used in conjunction with a rug underlay beneath it. This will help preserve this rug by keeping it snug to the floor and will also prevent slippage.  

Key details: 

  • Country of origin: Afghanistan
  • Size: 189×99cm / 6’3″x3’3″ 
  • Pile: Wool, hand-knotted
  • Warp: Wool
  • Age: Circa 1900
  • Condition: Worn; see above notes

 

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Frequently asked questions about Antique rugs

At The Oriental Rug Merchant, we are always on the look-out for interesting antique and old rugs. Often these are either no longer made in these places, or the carpet weaving has evolved into a more market-reactive enterprise.

These rugs often look “at home” in period properties (almost like they have always been there), but conversely can be a spectacular statement piece in an ultra-modern setting.

Is this the exact rug I’ll receive?

Yes. All of our antique rugs are unique, so this is the exact rug you will receive. No substitutions.

Have you cleaned this antique rug?

Yes, we are fastidious about putting any old or antique rug into our stock and before it is offered for sale it will have been professionally washed.

How hard wearing is this antique rug?

Due to its age and to keep this rug looking at its best for future keepers we recommend that this rug is not suitable for use in high traffic areas.

Should I put something under it to stop it from slipping?

We recommend using an anti-slip rug underlay with all rugs, but especially thin antique rugs. This will help protect the rug by keeping it flat as well as stopping you from slipping on it.

Is this rug an investment?

We don’t sell any of our rugs as investments. Antique rugs are unique items and certainly very special, and as such they are beautiful items to own and treasure. No rug should be purchased solely as an investment, as values can vary over time.

Before I decide, can I come and inspect it in person?

Of course, we’d love to welcome you to visit our shop. It’s a great idea to look closely at any antique rug that you’re considering to purchase. We’ll point out any repairs or areas of wear in the rug. Let us know that you’re coming and we will have it ready for you to look at, along with any other rugs that take your fancy.

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How should I care for this antique rug?

To preserve them for their next custodian, we always expertly wash the rugs that we discover and where possible/or financially viable repair them. Here’s some helpful pointers to keep your new antique rug looking at its best:

Vacuum

Vacuum gently without use of rotating brush or beater bar; take care to keep vacuum cleaner away from the fringed ends.

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.

Protect from sun-light

If possible during time of extreme sunlight, it is always a good idea to close blinds and curtains to avoid sun damage over time.

Be mindful of where you place it

Antique rugs keep much better when used in lower traffic areas in homes

Professional clean only

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.