How do I clean a wool runner?

Vacuum gently without a rotating brush bar to protect the historic wool pile from pulling or fraying. Professional textile cleaning is recommended for deeper maintenance. Avoid saturation and harsh chemical detergents, which can damage natural dyes and weaken the cotton foundation threads over time.

Where should I place a long hallway runner?

Position the piece centrally in corridors, entrance halls, or long landings where linear flooring benefits from warmth and acoustic softening. Ensure the narrow proportions leave adequate bare floor visible at the edges. Use a suitable underlay beneath the rug to prevent slipping on smooth wood or stone flooring.

How do I identify a Kurdish runner?

Look for robust wool construction, often featuring geometric tribal motifs and saturated background colours characteristic of Kurdish weaving regions. The handle is typically heavy and durable. Check the proportions and design layout against known nineteenth and early twentieth-century examples recorded in regional inventories.

What is the difference between a rug and a runner?

Runners possess an elongated, narrow proportion specifically designed for hallways and corridors. Standard rugs feature balanced rectangular dimensions meant for open floor spaces. Both formats utilise similar hand-knotted wool techniques and historical regional designs but serve entirely different architectural placements.