Get a Free Estimate :
Khazai rug cleaning and repair logo

Khotan (Hotan) Rugs

Khotan (also known as Gosthana, Gaustana, Godana, Godaniya, Hotan, Hetian, Hotien) is a major oasis town in southwestern Xinjiang, an autonomous region in Western China southwestern parts of which known formerly as Eastern Turkestan. An important station on the southern branch of the historic Silk Road, Khotan has always depended on two strong rivers—the Karakash River and the White Jade River to provide the water needed to survive on the southwestern edge of the vast Taklamakan Desert. The area is inhabited by Muslim Uighurs.
Carpet weaving in Hotan
Silk weaving in Hotan
According to myths Knowledge of silk production eventually left China via the heir of a princess who was promised to a prince of Khotan, likely around the early 1st century AD. The princess, refusing to go without the fabric that she loved, decided to break the imperial ban on silkworm exportation. In Persian literature Khotan is famous for its musk deer and the musk! Musk deer live mainly in forested and alpine scrub habitats in the mountains of southern Asia, notably the Himalayas and the best musk was traditionally obtained from the Khotan’s musk deer. Khotan has an ancient tradition in textiles including rugs and carpets. Antiques rugs woven in Khotan may be branded as ‘Samarkand’ because Eastern Turkestan’s woven pieces were gathered ultimately in this city. In the late 19th at least 5,000 carpets exported annually from Khotan and its surrounding villages.

Technical aspects and the structure of Khotan Rugs

Khotan rugs with woolen pile have cotton warp and wool or cotton weft. Recent production may have a completely cotton foundation. Knots are asymmetric (Persian). Wool-piled rugs have about 40 to 100 knots per square inch. Silk-piled rugs have about 200 knots per square inch. Some pieces contain metallic threads.

Dyeing and painting of Hotan Rugs

18TH CENTURY POMEGRANATE KHOTAN RUG
Field colors may be blue, yellow, or white, as well as the usual red. Inspired by Persian royal pieces, some antique Khotan rugs were woven with metallic threads. The ground or open areas of the field and border were executed in a metallic thread.

Designs and patterns of Hotan Rugs

Khotan’s designers combine Chinese details with Persian and Central Asian design schemes. Designs are usually medallions or all-over geometric elements. Lattice designs bearing clusters of rosettes are common for silk rugs. Variations of circular medallions used in Khotan rugs are called “Ay gul”. Ay gul may contain tiny stars, rosettes, pomegranates or cloud bands. The name means ‘moon flower’ or simply ‘moon medallion’. Saff, which is Arabic for ‘line’ is a type of prayer rug popular between Uighurs. It is a multiple prayer rugs for the use of a group of prayers. Khotan’s Saffs are usually long. Each Mihrab in a Khotan’s Saff is designed with a different floral motif.
Khotan Rug, Circa 1900
Khotan Rug, Circa 1920
Khotan Rug, Circa 1920
Khotan Rug, Circa 1920
Khotan Rug, Early 20th Century
Khotan Rug, Circa 1920
Khotan Rug, Early 20th Century
Call Now