The jute crop has anchored the rural textile economy of eastern India for two millennia, the unspun fibre carrying the rough golden register that turns up in finished work as the natural ground colour. This rug works the neutral side of that historical palette.

Hand-spinning came first, the bast fibre twisted by hand to a uniform working diameter. The yarn then went onto a flatbed loom for 4 weeks, weft-faced construction beaten tight enough to take household traffic for years. The dye registers on jute / sisal sit deep into the fibre rather than as a surface coat, which is why the colour reads with the same depth on the back of the rug as on the front. Both faces are working surfaces; many households reverse the rug at the seasons to even out the wear and the light exposure.

The composition

A field in neutral, the figure work in tonal contrast. The flat-weave construction means the rug sits low against the floor rather than rising into a soft pile, which is why the form has lived for two thousand years in domestic use across the Asian belt. The piece reads differently from across the room than from close range. At distance the neutral reads as a single ground; on approach the structural register of the weave and the small irregularities in the dye come through as the actual surface of the work.

The piece in a room

size as listed works under a dining table, in a sun-filled corner, in a hallway with heavy traffic, or as a base layer with a smaller patterned rug stacked on top. The neutral register sits well with cane furniture, painted plaster, and warm timber.

Care

Vacuum weekly with the beater bar off. Spot clean with mild soap on a clean cloth and blot dry. A flat-weave can be dry cleaned by a textile specialist every two to three years. Reverse seasonally to even out the wear; both faces are working surfaces and the rug benefits from rotation. Avoid extended direct sun on saturated areas of the dye, and use a thin underlay to keep the rug from sliding on hardwood or stone.

Reference

• Medium: hand-loomed sisal on cotton warp
• Dimensions: size as listed
• Construction: flat-weave
• Pile: flat-weave, no pile
• Hands: 1-2 weavers, ~4 weeks
• Reversible: yes
• Origin: India

Free shipping anywhere in India. Cash on delivery available at checkout. 7-day exchange from the date of receipt.