Khotan rugs (sometimes known as Samarkand rugs) originated in the Silk Road desert oasis kingdom of Khotan, East Turkestan. Khotan rug patterns are distinctive as a result of the design influence of the diverse luxury goods traded at this crossroads. The patterns mix smaller Chinese and Tibetan design elements with larger Persian, Turkish, and Turkoman designs. The rug field is often filled with "minor motifs" in the Persian style rather than left more open in the Chinese style. Popular eastern design elements include pomegranates, cloud bands, rosettes, flowering vines in vases, and lattices while rug cultures further west inspired the geometric shapes, central medallions and general composition. Khotan patterns were designed with colors that ranged from pastels to vivid hues.
Samarkand in Uzbekistan – more than 600 miles from Khotan – was a trading center for goods from East Turkestan including Khotan rugs. This is why "Samarkand" is often used to describe these designs. Khotan rugs were hand-knotted in wool or silk. Silk moths flourished in the kingdom's mulberry groves and their silk was used to make the famed Khotan rugs woven at Yarkand on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert.
The colors in antique Khotan rugs may not be true to the original as dyes often fade over time creating the vintage palette so beloved today. Antique Khotan rugs available are largely from the late 19th century when thousands were woven for export in Khotan and its satellite villages. Khotan-inspired rugs made in the 21st century are hand-knotted in other countries. Khotans new and old are perennial favorites with interior designers, particularly in Italy, where their striking floral and geometric designs and subtle colors enhance the faded elegance of Italian palazzi.
Khotan and Samarkand
Ivory White Wash Peshawar with Pomegranates Samarkand Design, Pure Wool Natural Dyes Hand Knotted, Gallery Size Runner Oriental Rug
SKU : 361250
Exact Size: 4'10" x 19'2"
$8,824
$3,750
FREE SHIPPING
Ivory Natural Dyes Hand Knotted White Wash Samarkand With Pomegranate Design, Pure Wool, Oriental Rug
SKU : 361040
Exact Size: 2'7" x 9'6"
$1,732
$736
FREE SHIPPING
Gray Hand Knotted Milk Wash Peshawar With Khotan Design, Organic Wool Natural Dyes, Runner Oriental Rug
SKU : 361035
Exact Size: 2'8" x 13'0"
$2,446
$1,040
FREE SHIPPING
Ivory Milk Wash Samarkand With Pomegranate Design, Pure Wool Natural Dyes Hand Knotted, Oriental Rug
SKU : 360500
Exact Size: 3'0" x 4'9"
$1,005
$427
FREE SHIPPING
Ivory Pure Wool Natural Dyes Hand Knotted, Samarkand With Pomegranate Design Stone Wash Peshawar Oriental Rug
SKU : 360450
Exact Size: 4'0" x 5'7"
$1,576
$670
FREE SHIPPING
Ivory Pure Wool Natural Dyes Hand Knotted, Stone Wash Peshawar Khotan Design Oriental Rug
SKU : 360425
Exact Size: 8'3" x 9'9"
$5,677
$2,413
FREE SHIPPING
Ivory Milk Wash Peshawar, Pure Wool Natural Dyes Hand Knotted, Khotan Design Oriental Rug
SKU : 359850
Exact Size: 8'1" x 9'10"
$5,610
$2,384
FREE SHIPPING
Ivory Hand Knotted Pure Wool Natural Dyes Stone Wash Peshawar with Samarkand Design Oriental Rug
SKU : 359840
Exact Size: 9'3" x 11'8"
$7,616
$3,237
FREE SHIPPING
Ivory Milk Wash Peshawar, Hand Knotted Pure Wool Khotan With Pomegranate Design Natural Dyes, Oriental Rug
SKU : 359820
Exact Size: 9'0" x 11'0"
$6,987
$2,970
FREE SHIPPING
Most Recently Viewed
New Arrivals
Recently Sold