Semi antique Çal kilim from Turkey. 276x163 cms

A superb semi antique Çal kilim woven with a repetitive pattern but introducing variations in the colour, creating thus a flat weave full of movement and improvisations. The pattern in the border is a serrated leave, and here again the weaver has opted for the introduction of randomly arranged colours. A vibrant and original kilim. 

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size: 276×163 cms

Origin: Çal, Turkey

Date of weaving: 1950s

The most typical design from Cal region is a large central medallion often surrounded by four smaller medallions. The coloring of these kilims is perhaps their most distinctive feature, since these kilims are usually in warm or hot tones, with a lot of orange, some red and green.

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.