Kelim | 230 x 160 cm | Nr. Z-1659

Modern Kelim, beige

Origin	India
Dimensions	230 cm x 160 cm (= 3.68 m²)
Construction	hand-woven
Material	Weft (pile): wool (hand-spun, natural dyes) Warp: cotton
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	2022
Colour	Beige, Dark grey
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 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.

Pattern

The clear, abstract design of this contemporary rug speaks especially to people who love simple, modern interiors and architecture. The design idea for this rug comes from Europe. Free from the rules of traditional rug patterns, it was developed for Western art and interior styles. That is not an entirely new development, though. The roots of European rug design go back to Art Deco rugs, which were made to Western specifications between the late twenties and the fifties.

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 overall impression is dominated by beige and dark grey.

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 hand-spun sheep's wool dyed with plant colours. Before the rug is woven, the sheep are shorn and the wool is 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 cotton.