Antique kilim from Afyon, Turkey. 293x171 cms.

Kilims or Gilims are flatwoven textiles with a woollen weft on a woollen, goat hair or cotton warp. There are many different techniques and designs. The weaver normally works within a tradition of techniques, motifs and designs specific to a particular area or ethnic group. The designs relate to her natural surroundings, protection, fertility and the harmony of family relationships. Each weaver adds something from her own creativity and sense of composition. Kilims are often woven as part of a marriage dowry and can be used to create many different objects like storage bags, horse-blankets, baby carriers, blankets and wall and floor coverings.

This kilim was hand-woven on a simple loom by a village or nomadic weaver for her own use. Probably the weaver used wool from her own sheep. The wool was first cleaned, then hand-carded, hand-spun and finally dyed by hand, often using natural dye materials like roots, nuts, berries, fruits, flowers and plants. Kilims from the last quarter of the twentieth century mostly use synthetic dyes. This kilim would have taken many months to complete.

All our kilims selected in the country of origin and are professionally washed and restored before we import them directly from Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan. Natural patina and charming imperfections in design and colour (abrash) are highly valued characteristics of hand-woven kilims.

Afyon translates into English as “opium”, where opium poppy continues to be cultivated here for farmaceutical purposes, and it is said once the juice has been extracted from the plants, the residue is fed to the cows, which in turn produce milk with a high fat content. This is made into the local cream, or Kaymak, for which Afyon is renowned.

Kilim from Afyon, Turkey. A thick and sturdy kilim from Afyon woven with shhep’s wool except areas which are woven with undyed black goat’s wool.

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size: 293×171 cms

Origin: Afyon, Turkey

Date of weaving: 1940s