Buchara | 260 x 190 cm | Nr. Z-4658

All-over patterned Buchara, rust red with border and diamonds

Origin	Pakistan
Dimensions	260 cm x 190 cm (= 4.94 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	780.000
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1940
Colour	Rust red, Dark blue
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

This wonderful rug with its classic Buchara pattern was knotted in Pakistan. Buchara (sometimes also spelled Bochara) is an oasis city in Uzbekistan that lies on the former Silk Road. Although no rugs were ever knotted in Buchara itself, the city gave its name to many Oriental rugs, because they were traditionally exported to the West from Buchara. The rugs themselves, though, were traditionally knotted by various Turkmen tribes, above all in the Caucasus, Persia and Afghanistan.

Because Buchara rugs are among the finest and best-loved Central Asian rugs, their patterns have inspired weavers in Pakistan as well. That is how this rug with the typical Uzbek Buchara pattern came to be knotted in Pakistan.

Pattern

The edge of the rug is framed by a surround (border). The border forms a splendid contrast to the centre.

In the pattern of this Bukhara it is above all the diamonds that catch the eye. A diamond is a rhombus standing on one of its points, and in an Oriental rug its four equal sides can be serrated, stepped or trimmed with hooks. The diamond is one of the oldest basic forms in the Oriental rug. In the Islamic world it carries a symbolic meaning: it stands for the immortality of the soul. That is why you will so often find it used as a filler motif.

The repeating elements of this Buchara rug have no particular centre. The recurring rapport pattern feels calming, yet never dull. Rugs with a rapport pattern are also described as all-over patterned.

The background of this Buchara is dark blue. Rust red and dark blue also dominate the overall impression. The border is worked in rust red and dark blue.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this Buchara. It had owners before you who valued it and used it. It was hand-knotted around 1940. It has been cleaned thoroughly and is in good but unrestored condition. The fringes could do with a repair. The edges are damaged in parts. The pile is evenly worn. In some spots you can see a few white threads. That is perfectly normal with older rugs. They are the knot ends of the weft and warp weave, which work their way to the surface over the years. In terms of substance, this is not a major issue. We have not restored this Buchara because we feel it has a special presence just as it is. If you would like us to, we will of course be happy to restore the rug for you. Either way, this Buchara will bring you joy for decades to come.

Material

The pile of this Buchara was hand-knotted from high-quality new wool. New wool is obtained by gently shearing sheep. New wool is a renewable, natural raw material with a whole range of impressive qualities: thanks to the natural lanolin content of the wool, the surface repels droplets of water and is therefore naturally protected against dirt. Wool also provides excellent thermal insulation, helps regulate the indoor climate and absorbs sound. The weft and warp threads of this Buchara are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic, which makes it particularly suitable for a hard-wearing foundation.