Semi-antique Marsh Arab kilim from Iraq. 257x160 cms

Superb Marsh Arab Kilim with Unique Figurative Design

This outstanding Marsh Arab kilim features a wonderfully imaginative design that brings together both figurative and abstract elements. Among the motifs are camel caravans, female dancing figures, flowers, plants, floral bouquets, and birds—all interwoven with striking geometric patterns.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this piece is the play with scale: the plants and vegetal motifs are rendered in oversized proportions, creating a bold contrast with the smaller, more delicate depictions of camels and human figures.

Woven by a highly creative artisan, this kilim is not only a functional textile but also a vivid expression of cultural storytelling and artistic vision.

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size: 257×160 cms

Origin: Marsh Arabs, Iraq

Date of weaving: 1960s

The wetland marshes in the middle and lower basin of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Iraq comprise a complex of shallow freshwater lakes, marshes and seasonally inundated floodplains. These marshes have provided a home for the Ma’dan or Marsh Arabs for at least 5000 years. The majority are Shiite Muslims and in addition to their Islamic faith,the Ma’dan still held a number of pre-Islamic or extra-Islamic beliefs from the existence of strange monsters in the marshes to that of bewitched isles.They live in semi permanent reed or mudbrick houses that were built on artificial islands made from layers of mats,reeds and mud.

Elaborately embroidered by young Ma’dan girls for their marriage beds and sometimes by mothers for their sons.The most common examples are comparatively lightly embroidered but those most prized are heavily embroidered over their entire surface with a multitude of colorful patterns.

All weavers agree that the major part of these designs are abstract adaptations of those found in the local environment such as the frog, scorpion, date palm, dome or minaret. Each small group or village use different designs that indicate the origins of the weaver,but a single design is often assigned an entirely different significance by different weavers.In the last decades there is an increasing use of small, more or less realistic representations of men, women, animals, birds, flowers and mosques.

The embroidered blankets are often especially inventive in combining the geometric and small figurative and all are made without drawn patterns of any kind. Each weaver keeps in her head the position and size of the patterns she wishes to appear on the finished work and weaves or embroiders accordingly.

The finest collection of Iraqi embroidered blankets was assembled by Agatha Christie.