Old Kelim | 363 x 261 cm | Nr. 9484

Old Kelim

Delivery time	2 days
Origin	Turkey
Dimensions	363 cm x 261 cm (= 9.47 m²)
Construction	hand-woven
Material	Weft (pile): wool Warp: wool
Year of manufacture	1940
Condition	pre-owned, cleaned & partially restored
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Glowing colours and simple, geometric patterns – that is what makes Kelims loved all over the world. Kelims (also Kilim, Qilim) were traditionally made only for the weavers' own use. Nomads and farmers used, and still use, their Kelims as rugs on the floor, but also as tent or wall hangings, blankets, cushions or bags. Because Kelims were constant companions in everyday life, the patterns – however naive they may look – always carry a personal message and hold meaning for the weavers and their families.

In Europe it is above all Kelims from Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan and the Turkmen cultural region that are known and loved. In fact, rugs are hand-woven in every country where rugs are knotted.

This Old Kelim is around 86 years old and a true collector's piece.

Material

Kelims are hand-woven and consist only of warp and weft threads, so they have no thick pile standing upright. Kelims show the same pattern on both sides and can therefore be used either way up. The pattern is created by the coloured weft threads woven into the warp threads. For every new colour, a new thread has to be used in each row. The thread ends are worked in as the weaving goes along.

The weft threads of this Kelim rug are made of hand-spun sheep's wool dyed with plant dyes. Before the rug was woven, the sheep were first shorn and the wool was then cleaned, combed and finally spun. After spinning, the wool for Kelim rugs is dyed with natural colours in an elaborate process. Because of this traditional method, the pile of Kelim rugs feels dry and slightly furry. The warp threads of this Kelim are made of wool.

Condition

You are not the first to take a liking to this old Kelim. It had owners before you who valued and used it. It was hand-woven in around 1940. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good, though only partly restored, condition. A few areas have been repaired and are fairly obvious, as are some light stains. We have not fully restored this old Kelim, because we feel it has a special presence just as it is. If you would like us to, we will of course gladly continue the restoration for you. We can bring almost any rug back to near-perfect condition.