Semi-antique Milas kilim from Turkey. 257x168 cms

Soft-Coloured Semi-Antique Milas Kilim

This beautifully woven semi-antique kilim from Milas features a soft, pastel-toned palette arranged in horizontal bands. The weaver skillfully played with light and dark contrasts, using black and white to create a striking yet harmonious design.

A unique feature of this piece is how the motifs seem to float against the warm salmon background, giving it a light, airy presence. Instead of a traditional border, the edges have been left unadorned, adding to the kilim’s understated elegance.

This kilim is a subtle yet distinctive addition to any interior — blending history, craftsmanship, and style.

Note: There is a small stain on the lower end.

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size: 257×168 cms

Origin: Milas, Turkey

Date of weaving: 1940s

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.