Kelim | 249 x 171 cm | Nr. 7850

Mottled Kelim, beige with stripes, woven in panels

Origin	Persia
Dimensions	249 cm x 171 cm (= 4.26 m²)
Construction	hand-woven
Material	Weft (pile): wool (hand-spun, natural dyes) Warp: cotton
Pile height	3mm
Condition	new
Colour	Beige, Dusky Pink
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 region, Iran, Afghanistan and the Turkmen cultural area that are known and loved. In truth, rugs are hand-woven in every country where rugs are knotted. This Kelim is also known as an Alasht Kelim and is prized for its harmonious colours and its calm patterning.

Pattern

The straight stripes of this Kelim order and structure the 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 panels of this Kelim were woven on narrow looms and then sewn together to create the desired size.

The background of this Kelim is beige. The border is kept in dusky pink.

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.