Vintage Koprubasi kilim from Turkey. 260x175 cms

Vintage Köprübaşı Kilim with Striking Red Field

This vintage Köprübaşı kilim features a bold red main field arranged in a grid of five columns with five motifs in each row. The most captivating element of the piece is its vivid red ground, enriched by abrash—the natural variations in color that bring depth, movement, and character to the surface.

Unframed by borders, the motifs appear limitless, as if extending beyond the edges of the kilim, creating a sense of openness and continuity that enhances its visual impact.

Durable and versatile, this kilim is not only a fine example of village weaving but also perfectly suited for high-traffic areas, where it will bring both beauty and resilience.

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size: 260×175 cms

Origin: Koprubasi, Turkey

Date of weaving: 1980s

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.