Where should I place a long runner?

These extended floor coverings fit naturally into narrow hallways, corridors, entryways, and alongside large furniture groupings in spacious rooms. Their linear geometry draws the eye down a passage while protecting high-traffic timber or stone flooring. Ensure you measure the clear floor space carefully, leaving an equal margin of bare flooring exposed around the edges of the rug for a balanced appearance.

How do I care for antique wool runners?

Routine maintenance involves gentle vacuuming without a rotating brush roll to remove grit from the wool pile without damaging the hand-spun fibres. Professional cleaning by a specialist in antique textiles is recommended every few years to preserve the integrity of natural dyes. Using a quality underlay beneath the runner prevents slipping on hard floors and reduces friction between the wool foundation and the ground during daily use.

What do Heriz and Hamadan mean?

Heriz and Hamadan refer to specific weaving regions and market towns in northwestern Persia known for distinct tribal and village rug production. Heriz runners typically feature bold geometric medallions and sturdy structures, while Hamadan pieces encompass diverse village designs with varied blue and red fields. These regional designations help identify the likely origin, tribal influence, and general aesthetic framework of individual long runners.

How can I tell tribal from village rugs?

Tribal rugs were woven by nomadic or semi-nomadic groups from memory, resulting in asymmetrical motifs, spontaneous colour changes, and quirky tribal symbols. Village rugs were typically produced in fixed settlements using more structured looms and established regional patterns handed down through generations. Both categories share a reliance on hand-spun wool and natural dyes, differing primarily in the geometric freedom and layout of the field design.