Our newest collection, Kujaku, which means ‘peacock’ in Japanese, is inspired by this majestic bird’s symbolic values of kindness, love and grace, as well as its beauty and elegance.
Comprising a hand-knotted rug, hand-knotted runner and two crewel hand-embroidered cushions, our new Kujaku collection sets a glamorous, sumptuous tone. From the rich depth of the purple background to the poised, refined peacock at her centre, this sophisticated design is luxurious and timeless.
Inspired by values as well as style
‘Kujaku was inspired by the values of kindness, beauty, love and grace that the peacock represents in Buddhism. And inspired in style by the rugs of American designer Walter Nichols, who was hugely popular during the Art Deco movement, a favourite style period of mine,’ Wendy explains.
Made in China in the 1920s and 1930s, many of Nichols’ rugs combined traditional Chinese motifs with more open, often asymmetrical, designs, teamed with unusual colour combinations. They represented a change of direction from traditional Chinese weavings and appealed to new audiences from the Art Deco movement.
‘Walter Nichols has been an inspiration since I first entered the world of rug design,’ Wendy adds. ‘I’ve always been drawn to his wonderful use of rich bright colours, his pictorial, asymmetric approach to design, and his contemporary take on Eastern design.’
A recent photoshoot at Edinburgh’s exclusive Prestonfield House Hotel proved a wonderful setting for Kujaku. The glossy green walls with gold detailing and rich wooden flooring of the beautiful Italian Room perfectly complemented the sophisticated look and feel of Kujaku. Our new design took up residence in the regal space, effortlessly reflecting the sense of luxury around her. A glamorous addition indoors, Kujaku beautifully mirrored the peacocks outdoors, who strut and display their stunning, iridescent tail feathers throughout the hotel’s garden grounds in summer.
Kujaku Collection
Our majestic peacock weaves her magic
The Kujaku collection weaves together colour, pattern and the influence of Mother Nature in an uplifiting story. The magnificent peacock, which represents kindness, goodness, beauty, love and care, is the central motif, elegantly poised at the base of the rug, set against a majestic purple backdrop, surrounded by elements from the natural world.
Bold, rich and striking, purple is a thoughtful colour full of life and passion, as well as care and consideration. Beside the graceful peacock, a slender-stemmed tree extends upwards from a mountain base, slim tendrils decorated with gorgeous florals, showering glorious colour all around.
The gentle border is composed of rounded waves, sloping mountains and soft clouds; the waves symbolise the ebb and flow of life; the mountains are solid and enduring, they withstand time and represent resilience; while clouds represent the yin and yang, which influence health and order throughout the universe, and are a powerful symbol of harmony. The purple backdrop is the perfect base for the colours of the motifs, the blues, greens, pinks, lilacs and golds, to gently shimmer as light dances over them.
Opulent cushions and runner complete collection
A hand-knotted runner, which features a lavish green backdrop for the elegant peacock, and two hand-embroidered cushions, in lush green and lilac, complete the luxurious collection. The base tones for the runner and the cushions are drawn from the Kujaku rug, entwining curated colour throughout the collection.
The sophisticated peacock is at the heart of every piece of this collection, surrounded by colourful elements from nature, all of which carry beauty and meaning. As with the rug, the runner’s hand-knotted weaving technique results in a glorious soft shimmer to the finished piece. The intricate hand-embroidered crewel technique used on the cushions results in a uniquely embossed finish that is soft to the touch.
"Kujaku was inspired by the values of kindness, beauty, love and grace that the peacock represents in Buddhism"
The power of purple
The starting point for Kujaku was the deep shade of purple which forms the backdrop. A bold, rich colour, often associated with luxury, royalty, wealth and glamour, purple is also linked to calmness and spirituality.
‘The peacock is always an inspiration,’ Wendy explains, ‘a truly magnificent bird with the most incredible plumage. It is the national bird of India, has huge significance throughout Asia and has featured in many of my rugs. They have such an extraordinary beauty and magnificent presence.
‘I feel the peacock, which represents kindness, goodness, beauty, love and care, combined with all the other elements makes for a powerful life-affirming story. So far, I’ve used the hand-knotted Kujaku rug and cushions in my bedroom at home, and she elevates the space beautifully. I do believe she will work in all rooms of the house, and I can’t wait to try.’
The Kujaku Collection is Now Available to Order!
Please note that due to the intricate craftsmanship of our hand-knotted products, the Kujaku Hand-Knotted Rug and Kujaku Hand-Knotted Runner will be made to order. For more information on lead times, please contact our team.
Samples of the rug, runner, and cushions are available to order now.
