Khorjin Area Rugs: Saddlebag Designs in Rug Size

Arsh's Rug Library · Rug Styles

Red and blue Khorjin rug with tribal medallions in a room — Shown: Boho Chic Khurgeen Amari, 9'1" x 12'3"

Khorjin rugs take their designs from the woven saddlebags of Central Asian nomads: bold medallions, strong borders and the warm red and blue of tribal weaving.

What does Khorjin mean?

A khorjin (also spelled khurjin, khurjeen or khurgeen) is a double saddlebag, woven by nomadic families to carry their belongings on horseback or by camel. The faces of these bags were the showpieces of a weaver's skill, with tightly drawn medallions and borders. Khorjin rugs borrow that look and enlarge it to rug size, so a room-size rug carries the same bold, compact designs that once decorated a saddlebag.

How to recognize a Khorjin rug

Large geometric medallions, often octagons or stepped diamonds, set in rows or as one or two big centers.
A strong red field with deep blue, ivory and touches of rust, pink or green.
Wide, busy borders of small geometric motifs that frame the field like the edge of a bag.
A thick, hand-knotted wool pile that feels substantial underfoot.

Red and blue Khorjin rug with rows of tribal medallions — Classic red and blue, and a softer blue and pink colorway.

Blue and pink Khorjin rug — Classic red and blue, and a softer blue and pink colorway.

Our Khorjin rugs

The rugs in our Khorjin collection are hand knotted in wool in the Afghan tribal style. Most are red and blue, with some in blue and beige or blue and pink. You'll find accent sizes from about 4x6, room sizes up to 9x12, plus runners and a good choice of round rugs, which is unusual for a tribal design. Each rug is one of a kind.

Khorjin vs Kazak and Bokhara rugs

All three are bold geometric rugs, but they come from different traditions. Kazak rugs, from the Caucasus, use big hooked medallions and stars with a looser, more playful drawing. Bokhara rugs repeat small Turkmen guls in neat rows. Khorjin rugs sit between the two, with large, tightly drawn medallions framed by heavy borders. Compare them in our Kazak guide and Bokhara guide.

Where a Khorjin rug works best

The strong red and the geometry make a Khorjin rug a natural anchor for rustic, Southwestern, boho and modern farmhouse rooms, and the thick wool pile suits living rooms and family rooms. A Khorjin round works well under a round dining table or in an entry, and a runner warms a hallway. Pair it with leather, warm wood and white walls, and pick up its blue in pillows or art.

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