Kilim Tribal Art

Known for their wealth of rich colors and unique weaving tradition, antique and vintage kilim rugs are one of the most distinguishable types of rugs. The term “kilim” is Turkish in origin, but many variations of this type of textile share a common heritage and are practiced all across the Balkans, throughout the Arab world and elsewhere. There are Persian kilim rugs, kilim rugs from Central Asia and more. 

It is difficult to definitively pin down the origins of kilim weaving, which is known as a “flatweave” or “slit-weave,” but historians believe that skilled artisans may have practiced versions of it as early as the eighth and ninth centuries A.D. in the Anatolia region of Turkey. Many of the Turkish iterations of these flat-woven rugs are recognizable for their arrangements of dazzling, flowing forms, but a range of motifs can appear in kilim rugs — abstract figures that reference rams’ horns, snakes or running water or motifs that are intended to symbolize concepts such as the tree of life or fertility. In Anatolia, women have used kilims to share narratives about their lives. 

The difference between a kilim rug and most other kinds of carpets or pile rugs is in the aforementioned weave. They are made by interweaving variously colored, individual strands of wool (pure soft cotton, silk and goat’s hair are also used with the wool, albeit rarely) versus, say, the Tabriz rugs of Iran, which are hand-knotted rugs. This results in a smooth, frequently reversible surface. It’s a slit-weave because of the gap left between two blocks of color. Kilims are created on a loom, a typically uncomplicated structure mostly made of wood. Owing to the creative freedom that a slit-weave can afford its weaver, they tend to feature a range of bright, contrasting hues like reds, oranges and pinks that appear in bold combinations with deep blues and greens that are brought to life with natural dyes.

Handwoven kilim rugs are less expensive to produce and more durable than other rugs. They were traditionally used as floor coverings in mosques and yurts, as prayer rugs and saddle coverings. And these textiles are pileless: Whereas the Beni Ourain rugs of Morocco can be described as dense with a thick surface or pile, an authentic kilim rug is thin and flat. Because the resulting weave is lightweight, kilim rugs are well adapted for use in the hot summer months, and they are happily embraced by tribal weavers of Morocco, a part of the world that is home to many styles of rugs. 

With their striking geometric patterns and provocative color pairings, kilim rugs and wall tapestries are loved by design enthusiasts and can bring charm and interest into any dining room, living room or other interior space.

Find kilim rugs and textiles and other vintage rugs on 1stDibs.