Soumak Kelim | 131 x 84 cm | Nr. Z-1415

400,00 €

	1-3 working days delivery time (within Germany)
	14-day home trial
	Free delivery & returns within the EU

Soumak Kelim

This rug in beige and dark red exists in this form only once: it combines traditional craftsmanship with timeless elegance. At 131 × 84 cm, it is well placed as a bedside rug. It also cuts a fine figure in a study. Colouring and texture give the room a homely atmosphere – with a character no other rug shares.

Delivery time	2 days
Origin	Persia
Dimensions	131 cm x 84 cm (= 1.1 m²)
Construction	hand-woven
Material	Weft (pile): wool Warp: wool
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 region, Iran, Afghanistan and the Turkmen cultural area are particularly well known and popular. In fact, rugs are hand-woven in every country where rugs are knotted.

The name Soumak is said to go back to the eastern Caucasian town of Shemakha, home – so the legend goes – to the most graceful dancers in the Caucasus. Another theory derives the name from the spice sumac, which was used among other things to dye wool a reddish tone. In Persia, the wrapping technique of Soumak Kelims is also called peech baff or kayegh. The oldest known Soumak Kelims were woven in the 7th century BC.

Material

Soumak Kelims are hand-woven and consist only of warp and weft threads, which means they have no thick, upright pile. The weft threads that form the pile of this Soumak are made of wool. Wool was used for the warp threads as well. In the so-called wrapping technique by which Soumak Kelims are made, the protruding weft ends are not carried back and often hang loosely from the reverse of the Soumak Kelim. For that reason Soumak Kelims – unlike many other Kelims – can only be used from one side. Soumaks also lack the slits typical of many kinds of Kelim, because an additional weft thread is usually woven in as a continuous carrier.

A note on the photos

The colours of this rug change depending on which side you look at it from. It all depends on whether the light falls with the nap of the pile or against it. That is why we have photographed the rug from several angles.

Child labour? No thanks.

Child labour? No thanks. Children belong in school, not at a knotting frame or a loom. For us it therefore goes without saying that we only offer rugs made under fair conditions and without child labour.

We attach particular importance to humane working conditions and tolerate no child labour at any of our producers. Thank you for helping us to ensure fair conditions.

That is why we support the initiative Care & Fair against child labour in the rug trade.