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@almac68
I don’t know whether it’s my Turkish heritage but there is something special and remarkable about the kilim I have inherited from my mother.
The kilim is at least 80 years old according to the company cleaning and repairing it. The kilim has been neglected for some time. I can’t afford a full restoration (£3.5k) so a repair using traditional method is planned after cleaning. Basically to prevent fraying and loosening up of the weave. It will therefore express wear and tear once back home, with suitable care and attention could last another 80 years, its value restored, its statement as durable artwork to enjoy.
The commercialisation of kilim production which started in the 1940s lost the uniqueness attributed to nomadic tribal life. My kilim originates from the prolific weavers of the Qashqa’i. I will explain as best as I know what my kilim represents. I’m no expert, but I understand there is Islamic, animalistic and shamanic references associated with kilim design. Among its origins lies a symbology and language only those clans which still survive will truly understand and acknowledge. I will have to base my understanding on the reference books written by western scholars that I can access.
So Kilim in Turkish, Gelim in Persian, no doubt there are other spellings from the Caucasus mountains to Afghanistan and North Africa.
The Origins Of Traditional & Kilim Rugs
Kilim is a Turkish word that translates to ‘textile without piles’. This textile is produced using a flat weave technique that is also used by artisans in Turkey, the Caucasus, China, North Africa, the Balkans, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Central Asia. While you can say Kilim rugs are Oriental rugs, most rug connoisseurs acknowledge that Kilims are a class of their own.
How Kilim Rugs Are Made
It is the weaving technique that made a Kilim different from a traditional rug. These rugs are made using a flat weaving technique, which explains the lack of pile. This makes the rug lightweight and reversible.
Traditional rugs are made using power loom and hence, they can be woven quickly. On the other hand, Kilim rugs are handwoven and this makes it a tedious and time-consuming process.
Kilim rugs are more expensive compared to traditional rugs as they are handmade and no rugs have the same design. In fact, when you buy a Kilim, you are purchasing a piece of unique art.
Kilim rugs are more durable than traditional rugs as they are made using natural fibers and dyes. Of course, traditional or machine-made rugs can also last a long time, as long as they are made with quality raw materials and you put in an effort to maintain them.
The unique, flat-weaving technique makes Kilims completely different from traditional rugs. Kilim are pileless while traditional rugs will have piles of varying lengths.