Semi-antique Esme kilim from Turkey. 317x160 cms

An elegant and neatly designed Esme kilim from the 1960s. The central field is woven with three very big octogonal motifs and the rest of the field is filled with more asymetrically organised patterns. The multiple borders are very symetric and “tidy”. 

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size: 317×160 cms

Origin: Esme, Turkey

Date of weaving: 1960s

Large Esme kilims often feature hexagonal medallions, either arranged in pairs or woven singly as central motifs, with smaller infill designs decorating the rest of the field. The coloring of Esme kilims is similar to that of Denizli, but a Little softer: red and pink, purple and blue that fade to grey, as well as black orange and some yellow. Both use slitweave,with médium-to fine-spun wool and often cotton is used for the warps. Esme kilims have detailed design and a fine quality of weaving.

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.