Old Kelim | 263 x 180 cm | Nr. Z-1856

Old Kelim, dark red with border, diamonds and medallion

Origin	Turkey
Dimensions	263 cm x 180 cm (= 4.73 m²)
Construction	hand-woven
Material	Weft (pile): wool (hand-spun, natural dyes) Warp: wool
Pile height	3mm
Year of manufacture	1980
Colour	Dark red, light green
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

 

Origin

Bright colours and simple, geometric patterns – that is what makes Kelims loved the world over. 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, their 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, Iran, Afghanistan and the Turkmen cultural region are especially well known and loved. In truth, rugs are hand-woven in every country where rugs are also knotted. This old Kelim is around 40 years old and a real collector's piece. a

 

Pattern

The edge of the rug is framed by a surround (border). The border forms a splendid contrast to the centre.

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.

In the middle of this Kelim's central field lies the symmetrical centre, also known as the medallion. The design of the field is subordinate to the medallion, so that the medallion seems to float on the field.

The background of this Kelim is dark red. The border is worked in dark red, blue-grey and black.

 

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.