Lori Royal | 212 x 150 cm | Nr. Z-1920

Mottled Lori Royal, terracotta with stripes and all-over pattern (fine-detailed)

Origin	India
Dimensions	212 cm x 150 cm (= 3.18 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: wool (hand-spun, natural dyes) Weft & Warp: cotton
knots per m²2	160.000
Pile height	10mm
Year of manufacture	2022
Colour	Terracotta, Dark grey
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Lori rugs are a finer version of the Gabbeh, which was traditionally knotted by the Lurs. The Lurs are a tribal people in south-western Persia (also known as Loristan). Lori (or Luri) rugs are also referred to as Loribaft. The added syllable "baft" means roughly "knotted". Translated, Loribaft therefore means Lur knotting.

Lori rugs traditionally have inventive geometric patterns in colourful designs. Modern Loris are usually plainer these days, with monochrome designs. Even so, you still come across traditional, stylised and geometric motifs from everyday nomadic life, such as goats, camels, dogs, plants or people. The geometric pattern and the friendly colours create a pleasant, warm atmosphere at home.

The pattern of this rug is adorned with horizontal stripes and flowing colour gradients. It is faintly reminiscent of the signature striped designs of the Italian fashion house Missoni.

Pattern

The surface of this Lori Royal has a mottled look. The shifts in tone and the light-and-dark shading of the pile yarn make the colours shimmer and keep the rug forgiving of dirt. These so-called colour variations, known as abrash, give the rug a livelier character. The mottling comes about because the wool of this Lori Royal was hand-spun. During dyeing, the natural pigments are absorbed to differing degrees.

The straight stripes of this Lori Royal order and structure the pattern.

The chequered pattern wins you over with its contrasts and yet stays restrained. Anyone who loves symmetry and structure will take to this rug.

This Lori Royal has an immense amount of character. The labyrinth-like background is hypnotic and incredibly detailed. The repeating elements in the central field of this Lori Royal rug have no specific centre (what is known as a repeat pattern). The recurring pattern feels calming without ever becoming boring. Rugs with a repeat pattern are also described as all-over patterned.

The overall impression is dominated by terracotta and dark grey.

Material

This particularly fine, hand-knotted Lori has an exceptionally dense pile and an even surface that is not as grainy as on Gabbeh or other Lori rugs. The wool used for the pile of Lori rugs is especially high in quality and rich in natural lanolin. They are wonderfully cosy and hard-wearing. Traditionally, Lori rugs – like the Gabbeh – were used for sleeping on. They invite you to sit and sprawl in the living room, but they are also excellent for hallways and dining areas.

The warp and weft yarns of Lori rugs are traditionally made of new wool, hand-spun and dyed with natural colours. The hand-spun wool gives the Loris their soft surface. Hand-spun wool is always a little irregular. During dyeing, the natural pigments are absorbed to varying degrees. This makes the rug look more alive, creating what is known as abrash, in other words light-and-dark shadings of colour. These shifts in the shade of the pile yarn always run across the length of the Lori Royal and make the rug forgiving of dirt. The weft and warp threads of this Lori Royal are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic and therefore particularly well suited to a hard-wearing foundation.