Silk Rugs

Silk catches the light in a way wool cannot, giving these hand-knotted rugs a soft shimmer that changes as you walk around them.

Kashmiri silk rugs are knotted very finely, so their florals, vines and medallions are drawn in remarkable detail. Afghan Bashiri silk rugs bring the same sheen to Afghan weaving. Among the vintage pieces are silk Persian Kerman and Tabriz rugs with city floral designs, silk Princess Bokhara and Turkmen Tekke rugs with rows of guls, and Chinese silk rugs with open, airy fields. Because silk is finer than wool, the drawing can be more precise and the colours read brighter.

A silk rug is best where it's admired as much as walked on. It suits a bedroom, study or quieter living space away from heavy traffic, and smaller pieces look beautiful hung on a wall, where the sheen shifts through the day.