Vintage Mut kilim from Turkey. 280x184 cms

An extremely finely woven Vintage mut kilim from Turkey that combines areas of dyed and undyed (brown and ivory) wool. The fine motifs can only be achived with wool that has been very finely spun. The two vertical rows of geometric medallions make for a nice contrast against the pretty flowers scattered throught the field. The abrash or colour changes in the main field are spectacular and add depth and a sence of movement to the piece.

The warps are brown, as can be appreciated in the fringes.

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size:  280×184 cms

Origin: Mut, Turkey

Date of weaving: 1970s

Kilims continue to be woven in this area today, primarily for home use. Although many find their way into the commercial market, they are not woven specifically for the export trade. The warps of Mut kilims often contain goat or horse hair and are therefore bulky, and dark brown in colour, and their fringes are twisted or plaited and frequently found at only one end. The bold serrated diamond-shaped medallions found in Mut kilims are often compared with the weavings of the North American Navajo Indians, and contrasting colours such as dark brown, white and red, and a little blue and yellow, are used to full effect, highlighting this prominent design. Small kilims are woven in a similar format using predominantly natural wool tones of grey, brown and white, with small areas of dyed wool, generally in red, pink, orange or yellow.

Another composition that is frequently woven is of large hexagonal-shaped medallions arranged in pairs down the field of the kilim, with considerable areas of sparsely decorated ground, usually red or terracotta, a reciprocal border design and a narrow skirt pattern. A similar composition is also woven using hooked diamond-shaped medallions which interconnect, forming the pattern that covers the field and creates a floating effect. An unusual double prayer-arch design is occasionally found, the apex of each prayer arch joining at the centre of the kilim; these were possibly made as camel or horse covers. There are a number of different designs woven in this area, mostly using hooked, serrated or fingered medallions of varying sizes in their composition.

Older kilims generally have a more mellow colour palette of red, pink, brown, blue and yellow. More recent weavings have autumnal tones of terracotta, brown, orange, yellow and some green. Tight slitweave is used, so that the designs do not contain any long vertical slits; this, together with the thick warps and wefts, results in a substantial and hard-wearing textile.

“Kilims: the complete guide”. Alastair Hull and Luczyc Wyhowska