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160cm x 230cm (5ft x 7.5ft)
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In collaboration with the Natural History Museum
Bring colour, culture, and craftsmanship into your home with the Werners Watercolour Checkerboard Wool Rug. Inspired by Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours, this rug blends natural history with artistic heritage. Originally used by explorers like Charles Darwin, the guide categorised colours found in nature with poetic precision, from “Peach Blossom Red” to “Berlin Blue.” This multicoloured rug features a grid of 60 vibrant shades, from rich blues and earthy greens to bold reds and sunny yellows, each square celebrating the diversity of natural hues. Handcrafted from high-quality wool, the Werners Watercolour rug offers a soft, comfortable feel underfoot with excellent durability for everyday living. Ideal for adding a bold, artistic statement to living rooms, bedrooms, or creative spaces.
Natural History Museum x Dunelm
In a time before colours could be captured visually through photography, scientists used vivid descriptions to identify them, drawing reference from elements of nature. Werner’s 1814 book of colour charts Nomenclature of Colours, which forms part of the Natural History Museum’s rare books collection, was a pioneering work that visualised colour through the vibrancy of birds and butterflies, the shades of flowers and fruit and the tones of precious gems. This classification of colour helped narrate an age of exploration, allowing Charles Darwin to tell a visual tale of his famous 1830s voyage upon HMS Beagle. It is the richness of both colour and language that has been cherished by naturalists for over two centuries and has inspired The Origins of Colour collection, which reimagines the colours of nature for your home.
Why Wool? Choose wool for its natural durability, cosy warmth, and easy maintenance. Naturally resilient, wool fibres bounce back easily, making them ideal for high-traffic areas. They also act as a natural sound and heat insulator, helping to create a quieter, cosier space.
Care: Wool is a natural fibre, and shedding is normal for a long period. Unroll your rug and leave for 24 hours during first use. Maintain your Wool rug by vacuuming regularly with a nozzle attachment, this will reduce shedding over time. Cut any loose fibres with scissors, do not pull. For accidental spills blot immediately and spot clean with a damp white cloth, do not rub or over saturate the fibres to keep them soft and plush. Add an anti-slip underneath your rug to prevent slipping. Rotate every few months to prolong the life of your rug.
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