Old Kelim | 253 x 179 cm | Nr. Z-4438

Mottled old Kelim, light blue with diamonds

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, Kelims from Turkey, the Caucasus region, Iran, Afghanistan and the Turkmen cultural sphere are particularly well known and loved. In fact, rugs are hand-woven in every country where rugs are knotted. This old Kelim is around 50 years old and a true collector's piece. This Anatolian Kelim is a hand-woven original from Turkey, and as a vintage classic of roughly 50 years it stands out for its especially fine weave. An absolute highlight is its wonderful interplay of colour: the traditional, harmoniously matched shades have a beautiful luminosity and instantly give any room a warm, inviting and stylish atmosphere. Made from 100 % pure new wool, this flat-woven masterpiece is not only pleasantly warm underfoot but also extremely hard-wearing and naturally dirt-repellent. Thanks to its timeless, geometric design, this Kelim rug fits perfectly into modern and classic interiors alike.

Pattern

The surface of this Kelim has a mottled look. The shifts in tone and the light-and-dark shading of the pile yarn make the colours shimmer and keep the rug forgiving of dirt. These so-called colour shifts, abrash, give the rug a livelier feel. The mottling comes about because the wool of this Kelim was hand-spun. During dyeing, the natural pigments are absorbed to differing degrees.

The abstract, geometric composition is what gives this Kelim its understated elegance. The pattern flatters the design of the room without drawing attention away from the furniture, the décor or the architectural features. It settles beautifully into any setting and complements the furnishings of a room in a subtle way.

In the pattern of this Kelim it is the diamonds that stand out most. A diamond is a rhombus standing on one of its points, and in the Oriental rug its four equal sides can be serrated, stepped or set with hooks. The diamond is one of the oldest basic forms in the Oriental rug. In the Islamic world it carries a symbolic meaning: it stands for the immortality of the soul. That is why it is so often found as a filler motif.

The repeating elements of this Kelim rug have no particular centre. The recurring repeat pattern feels calming without ever becoming dull. Rugs with a repeat pattern are also described as all-over patterned.

The overall impression is dominated by light blue and dark blue.

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.