Antique Japanese Kelim | 265 x 117 cm | Nr. 16296

Antique Mongolian Kelim runner, grey with motif and stripes

This wonderful piece is one of a pair.

See: https://www.zomorrodi-teppiche.de/products/antiker-mongolischer-kelim-teppich-265-x-116-16297

Origin	Mongolia
Dimensions	265 cm x 117 cm (= 3.10 m²)
Construction	hand-woven
Material	Weft (pile): wool (hand-spun, natural dyes) Warp: cotton
Pile height	4mm
Year of manufacture	1910
Colour	Grey
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

 

Origin

Kelims (also kilim, qilim) were traditionally made for the weavers' own use only. 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 daily life, their patterns – however naive they may appear – 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 region, Iran, Afghanistan and the Turkmen cultural sphere that are known and loved. In fact, rugs are hand-woven in every country where rugs are knotted. This Kelim was hand-woven in Mongolia and has so far been used exclusively as a wall hanging. Mongolian Kelims are extremely rare and have collector's value.

Kelims are always hand-woven and consist of warp and weft threads alone, so they have no thick, upward-standing pile. Kelims show the same pattern on both sides and can therefore be used either way up. The patterning is created by the coloured weft threads woven into the warp. This antique Mongolian Kelim is a collector's item. It is around 110 years old, which alone makes it a truly special piece. Antique rugs, like this Mongolian Kelim, are as sought after as ever and fetch top prices at renowned auction houses. This antique Mongolian Kelim is adorned with 4 smaller ducks in the corners and a larger one in the centre. At the upper end the piece is set off with colourful stripes. Very subtly, this Kelim is patterned in dark brown on the grey ground, with typically Asian motifs.

 

Pattern

The straight stripes of this Mongolian Kelim order and structure the pattern.

The pile is a single shade of grey. The plain design is understated, yet it can also set a wonderful decorative accent. The monochrome look of this rug fits beautifully into any setting.

 

Condition

You aren't the first to take a liking to this Kelim. It had owners before you who valued and used it. It was hand-woven around 1910 and has given faithful service ever since. As this piece served for years as a wall hanging and was never subjected to wear, it has survived in excellent shape. Only the edges need a little attention. All in all it is still in good condition and will bring pleasure for decades to come. We have not restored this Mongolian Kelim, because we feel it has a special presence exactly as it is. If you would like us to, we will of course be glad to restore the rug for you.

 

Material

The technique used to prepare the materials for the pile of this Kelim is more than 200 years old. The wool was dyed with natural dyes and spun by hand. Dyeing with natural or plant dyes is more involved, more expensive and more time-consuming than dyeing with chemical colours. For a luminous red, for example, you need around one kilo of ground madder root as dye per kilo of wool. For a strong yellow that isn't too pale, it even takes two kilograms of weld per kilo of wool. Spinning the wool is labour-intensive and time-consuming too. On top of that, fewer and fewer people still know how to spin wool by hand.

But the effort is worth it: dyeing with natural colours allows the high-quality wool to keep its natural oil content. Wool that has been dyed with natural colours and spun by hand creates fascinating, shimmering patterns. The charm of hand-spun wool, with its slight irregularities and natural shades, comes into its own as a contrast in modern interiors, but equally in rooms furnished in a more traditional or country style.