Ghasghai Kelim | 268 x 197 cm | Nr. Z-2601

Geometric Ghasghai Kelim, dark blue with diamonds

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	268 cm x 197 cm (= 5.2796 m²)
Construction	hand-woven
Material	Weft (pile): wool (hand-spun, natural dyes) Warp: wool
Pile height	3mm
Year of manufacture
Colour	Dark blue, terracotta
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

 

Origin

Bright colours and simple patterns – that is what Kelims are known for. Kelims (also written 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 fact, rugs are hand-woven in every country where rugs are knotted. This Kelim was woven – as its name already tells you – by the Ghashghai. The Ghashghai are an important Persian nomadic people who have lived in the south of Iran, in the province of Fars, for centuries. They are made up of seven tribes in all. The – at least as far as rug production is concerned most important tribe of the Ghaschghai is the Kashghuli (also Kaschguli, Kashguli, Qashguli). Old and antique rugs and Kelims by the Ghashghai are sought-after collector's pieces today. The rugs and Kelims of the Ghasghai are known as the king among Persian nomadic rugs.

 

Pattern

The abstract, geometric composition is what gives this Ghasghai Kelim its understated elegance. The pattern flatters the design of the room and never steals attention from the furniture, the décor and the architectural elements. It settles wonderfully into any setting and complements a room's furnishings in a subtle way.

A lightly suggested border frames the edge of this rug.

In the pattern of this Ghasghai Kelim it is above all the diamonds that stand out. 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 found so often as a filler motif.

The surface of this Ghasghai 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 character. The mottling comes about because the wool of this Ghasghai Kelim was hand-spun. During dyeing, the natural dyes are taken up to differing degrees.

The overall impression is dominated by dark blue and terracotta. The border is worked in yellow, dark blue and black.

 

Material

Ghasghai Kelims are hand-woven and consist only of warp and weft threads, so they have no thick, upright pile. Kelims carry the same pattern on both sides and can therefore be used either way up. The patterning is created by the coloured weft threads that are 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 well.

The weft threads of this Ghasghai Kelim are made of hand-spun sheep's wool dyed with plant dyes. Before the rug was woven, sheep were first shorn and the wool was then cleaned, combed and finally spun. After spinning, the wool of 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 Ghasghai Kelim are made of wool.