Kelim | 331 x 310 cm | Nr. Z-4407

Geometric Kelim, terracotta with diamonds

Origin	Turkey
Dimensions	331 cm x 310 cm (= 10.26 m²)
Construction	hand-woven
Material	Weft (pile): wool (hand-spun, natural dyes) Warp: wool
Pile height	5mm
Year of manufacture	1970
Colour	Terracotta
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Glowing colours and simple, geometric patterns – that is what makes Kelims loved all over the world. 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, the 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 much loved. In fact, rugs are hand-woven in every country where rugs are also knotted. This Hereke Kelim is a fascinating masterpiece of Oriental weaving and an absolute one-of-a-kind piece. It was artfully sewn together from several original, flat-woven Hereke Kelims, precisely and securely. This runner of old Kelims wins you over with its exceptionally beautiful play of colour: the expressive, perfectly matched shades glow wonderfully in the light and instantly give the room a warm, lively feel. Made from 100 % pure new wool, it is extremely hard-wearing, wonderfully warm underfoot and naturally dirt-repellent. This glorious Kelim rug came about because we had so much demand for larger Kelim rugs in this style for the living or dining room. Since almost nothing but runners were ever woven, we had these wonderful works of art made.

Pattern

The abstract, geometric composition is what gives this Kelim its understated elegance. The pattern flatters the design of the room without drawing attention away from the furniture, the décor or the architectural features. It creates a pleasant atmosphere without dominating the style of the room.

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.

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 background of this Kelim is terracotta.

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.