Multicolor Floral Hand-Knotted Wool Rug, Rast Series

Four columns, six rows: the field is divided into twenty-four colored rectangles. A thin stem runs the full length of every column, and wherever it enters a block it puts out leaves on either side. Dividing a field into compartments is an old idea in rugs; garden rugs split the ground with water channels and set a tree or a flower in each bed. The blocks here recall that order, but there are no channels between them, only color.

01The tone of the ground

The design belongs to Halıcızade and is found only at Halıcızade. The colors are mustard, orange, burgundy, brown, pink, sage, charcoal, pale gray and cream. Each leaf is set against its block: cream leaves on burgundy, charcoal leaves on sage.

02From ground to pile

Inside every block the color is not flat; it deepens and lightens in fine streaks. Hand-knotted in India from wool, bamboo viscose and cotton. 208 × 302 cm (6'10" × 9'11"), about 6.3 square meters (roughly 68 square feet).

03Coming off the loom

In the Rast series each design is woven once or a few times and is not woven again outside the size in stock. A design built on straight lines gets along with furniture built on straight lines.

04What it sits well with

Lay the rug parallel to the walls and center one column on the sofa, and the edge of the block ties to the edge of the furniture. With this many colors in the rug, one in the room is enough: a mustard armchair finds the mustard blocks, and light oak and white walls keep everything else in the background. The tassels at the short ends are tied off in black, orange and red thread.