Provenance and Design Heritage

The Khotan design comes from the oasis city of Khotan on the southern Silk Road in East Turkestan (today’s Xinjiang). Khotan rugs are defined by a quiet geometric clarity — above all the famous pomegranate allover, in which rows of stylised pomegranate blossoms rise from the ground in staggered repeat. They remain one of the most architecturally readable design families in the Oriental rug canon.

This piece was hand-knotted in Afghanistan from finest hand-spun wool on a cotton foundation, in the contemporary “Erased Industrial” finish — the design is rendered in softened, partly worn-away contours with the pile cut short, giving the surface an immediate, lived-in patina. The result carries the historic Khotan idiom while reading as fully contemporary in a modern interior.

Colour and Composition

The field carries the classic Khotan pomegranate allover — rows of rounded pomegranate blossoms in staggered repeat across the whole surface, framed by several narrow geometric borders. The palette is the heart of this piece: a deep, abrashed greige / grey-brown ground over which the pomegranates and border tracery glow in warm terracotta and rust-orange, picked out and outlined in teal / petrol blue. The erased finish lets the ground shift constantly between taupe, grey and brown, so the rug never reads as a flat colour — it has the depth and movement of a genuine antique, in a thoroughly modern key.

Presence in the Room

At 421 × 309 cm (13.0 m²) this is an oversize, palatial-scale piece — a rug for generous, architectural rooms. Three contexts in which the Khotan reaches its full effect:

• Grand living room: beneath a generous sofa group of four to five pieces, the deep abrashed ground anchors the room while the terracotta-and-teal drawing gives it warmth — ideal for interiors built around natural stone, concrete or pale oak.
• Stately dining hall: under a long table for eight to ten, the pomegranate field reads as a measured, architectural pattern from above.
• Modern loft or gallery space: in a minimal interior, the erased finish creates a dialogue between historic textile heritage and contemporary architecture.

Specifications

An Investment-Grade Piece

At this scale, quality and price point, the Palatial Khotan is not only a furnishing but a collectible investment piece. Fine hand-knotted oversize rugs in hand-spun wool are increasingly difficult to source, and a well-kept example of this calibre holds its value as a lasting asset — a considered acquisition for a principal room.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Verified Source · Trust and Provenance

Djoharian has been a trusted name in fine Oriental rugs since 1967, with roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran. We are a verified seller on 1stDibs since 2013, with a 5.0 / 5 rating across our reviews and “Recognized Dealer” standing. Our rugs have featured in international productions, including the film Spencer (2021) with Kristen Stewart. Every piece is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Responsible Sourcing · Label STEP

Djoharian is a Label STEP certified dealer for fair-trade knotted rugs — a commitment to dignified working conditions and against child labour in rug production. Visit the Label STEP entry for Djoharian Teppiche →

Service and Delivery

Every piece in the Djoharian Collection is expertly inspected in our atelier in Lohr am Main, professionally washed and shipped with a certificate of authenticity. Secure and fast worldwide shipping, fully insured, and personal consultation in our showroom or by video call.