This is a round carpet 200 cm across, woven from twisted water hyacinth fibres. The braids run in a spiral from the centre out to the edge, and the colour is the natural tone of the dried plant — from pale straw to a darker beige in individual strands. The carpet is made by hand in Vietnam.
How big it is and where it fits
A 200 cm circle covers a little over 3 m² of floor. That diameter is worth comparing with the footprint of the furniture it will sit under: beneath a round table there is margin for pulling chairs back only if the top itself is well under 120 cm.
The weave is 1 cm thick, a figure to compare with the gap under a door if the carpet will lie in a doorway. The maker gives 12 kg as the shipping weight, so a rolled carpet is carried between two people rather than in one hand.
What it is made of
Water hyacinth is an aquatic plant whose stems are dried and twisted into thick cords, which is where the heavy, coarse weave in the detail photograph comes from. The material is stiffer and rougher than wool or cotton, and the surface stays slightly uneven.
Every piece is braided by hand from a natural raw material, so small irregularities in the weave and shade differences between strands are normal and fall differently on each one. The maker calls this carpet boho — the raw, undyed, patternless weave is the feature that shows the style.
Where it can lie and how to look after it
The maker intends this carpet for indoor use only. Excess moisture weakens the fibres and encourages mould, so it is not for a terrace, a balcony or a bathroom, not even under cover.
Day to day, vacuuming with a brush attachment or a soft brush is enough to lift dust from between the twisted cords. Marks are taken up with a lightly damp cloth, after which the carpet has to dry completely. The maker's care protocol is dry cleaning — it is not washed or soaked.
