Nilgiri Hand-Knotted Rug
Handcrafted in India
Nilgiri Hand-Knotted Rug
Finished and waiting in our studio — dispatched within 3–5 business days, rolled, wrapped and insured.
- Handcrafted in India
- Crafted by master artisans
- Customization available — size, finish & fabric
- Secure, insured delivery across India
- International shipping available
Description
The Nilgiri takes its name from the blue hills of the south, and its whole field is that colour: a clear, washed sky blue that reads calm from across the room and lively up close.
Every knot is tied by hand in 100% New Zealand wool on a cotton foundation. Turn a corner over and the design is there on the back as well, knot for knot. That is the surest way to tell a hand-knotted rug from a tufted or machine-made one, and it is the reason a rug like this lies flat and holds its shape for decades.
Three stepped ivory medallions run down the centre, each holding a rust-brown diamond and a small ivory flower, joined by charcoal scrolls. Rows of flowering sprigs close the field at each end, and four tall rust columns stand in the corners like cypress trees. A charcoal border of rosettes and palmettes, edged in brick red, frames the whole piece. It is the old village-rug vocabulary, drawn in fresher colours.
Because every knot is placed by hand, lines drift slightly and the blue may carry gentle shifts of tone. That is the mark of a rug made by a person, not a flaw. A Nilgiri woven to your size follows the same design and palette, but it will be its own piece rather than a copy of the one photographed.
The 4 × 6 ft rug photographed here is in stock and ready to ship. Four larger standard sizes, up to 9 × 12 ft, are woven to order in 8–12 weeks, as is any size made to your exact measurements.
Construction
- Hand-knotted
- Pile: 100% New Zealand wool
- Foundation: cotton
- Cotton fringe on both short ends, bound side edges
- Standard sizes: 4 × 6, 5 × 8, 6 × 9, 8 × 10 and 9 × 12 ft
- 4 × 6 ft in stock; other sizes and custom sizes woven to order
- Handmade in India
Materials & Construction — Hand-Knotted
Every knot is tied individually by hand onto the warp — the most time-honoured and labour-intensive of all rug constructions, and a single piece can occupy several artisans for months. There is no adhesive and no backing: the structure is the knots themselves. That is why a hand-knotted rug can be washed, repaired and passed down across generations.
Made by hand from natural yarn, so slight variation in colour, pile height and finished dimensions is intrinsic to the piece, not a defect.
Rug Care
- Vacuum periodically with the beater bar or brush roll switched off — suction only. Never brush or scrub the pile.
- Blot spills immediately with a clean, dry cloth. Press, don’t rub — rubbing drives the stain deeper and distorts the weave.
- Rotate the rug every few months so it wears and fades evenly.
- Use protectors under the legs of heavy furniture to prevent flattening and permanent indentation.
- If a thread lifts, never pull it — trim it level with the pile using sharp scissors.
- Keep out of prolonged direct sunlight to preserve the depth of the dyes.
- Light shedding may appear at first and settles quickly. With no adhesive backing, this rug can be professionally wet-cleaned and, in time, repaired or restored.
- An underlay is recommended — it stops slipping, cushions the pile and extends the life of the rug.
- Have the rug professionally cleaned periodically. Avoid machine washing, bleach and harsh solvents.
Sizing & Placement
As a guide: in a living room, the front legs of all seating should rest on the rug. In a dining room, allow at least 60 cm beyond the table edge so chairs stay on the rug when pulled out. In a bedroom, allow 45–60 cm of rug either side of the bed. Custom dimensions are available on most pieces — enter your measurements on this page, or speak with a design consultant.
Craftsmanship
Wool is carded, hand-spun and dyed in small batches, then knotted row by row on an upright loom. Once cut from the loom the rug is washed, clipped and finished entirely by hand — the clipping alone defines the final texture and the crispness of the pattern.
Delivery & Shipping
The 4×6 ft rug is finished and waiting in our studio, dispatched within 3–5 business days. Every other size is made to order, crafted in 8–12 weeks and then dispatched. All rugs travel by safe, insured delivery, rolled and wrapped for transit. A rug may arrive with fold marks or a slight curl at the edges — lay it flat and allow a few days for it to settle. International freight is quoted at checkout.
Designer Notes
“We design for the way you actually live — pieces generous enough to sink into, detailed enough to reward a second look, and made to age beautifully.” — Art Avenue Design Studio
Everything you need to choose well.
Every detail, on the record.
- Construction
- Hand-Knotted
- Shape
- Rectangular · custom sizes to order
- Pile
- 100% New Zealand wool
- Foundation
- Cotton
- Colour
- Sky blue field · ivory, rust, charcoal & brick red
- Suitability
- Indoor · living rooms, bedrooms & hallways
- Origin
- Hand-knotted in India
- Lead time
- 4×6 ft in stock — ready to ship. Other sizes crafted in 8–12 weeks
- Care
- Vacuum on low without beater bar · rotate twice yearly · professional clean every 3–4 years
How a rug is made changes everything.
Hand-Knotted
Every knot tied by hand around the warp — the most enduring and collectible construction. Months on the loom; a rug made to be passed down.
Hand-Tufted
Wool punched through a backing and sheared to a plush, even pile. Quicker to make and gentler on price, soft underfoot.
Flat-Weave
Woven flat with no pile — reversible, light and crisp in pattern. Easy to lift, air and layer over a larger rug.
Hand-Loomed
Woven on a loom with a subtle loop or cut pile — a quiet, contemporary texture between knotted and flat.
Know the feel before you choose.
Knotted entirely by hand, the old way.
A single piece passes through the hands of spinners, dyers and weavers, and can take months to finish. The gentle variation you see is the signature of that human hand, never a flaw.
