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Late 19th Century Antique Southwestern-Style Germantown Optical Kilim Rug
About the Item
78423 Antique Southwestern-Style Germantown Optical Kilim Rug, 03'03 x 05'01. Woven in the waning years of the 19th century, this antique Southwestern-style Germantown kilim rug reflects a pivotal moment in American textile history—when tradition and transformation intertwined through innovation at the loom. Created during the height of the Germantown yarn era (circa 1875–1900), this handwoven wool rug utilizes vividly dyed commercial yarns—red, navy, gray, and black—sourced from Eastern mills and traded into the Southwest. Rather than displacing ancestral design traditions, these new materials became the medium through which a visionary form of regional weaving emerged, one that pushed the boundaries of geometry and visual intensity.
The rug’s central field features alternating bands of black and gray, each tightly bordered by slim vermilion red stripes. These horizontal elements provide the foundation for a composition that both pulses and breathes, animated by staggered, rectangular ladder motifs that interlock across the field. This rhythmic architecture appears to expand and contract with the viewer’s gaze, creating a dynamic optical effect. Though abstract, the stepped forms suggest portals or pathways—evoking themes of journey, transition, and sacred geography drawn from Indigenous-inspired symbolism.
Flanking the main field are vertical chevron bands composed of alternating stacked blocks in navy blue and crimson red. These side panels create visual tension with the horizontal bands of the center, producing a structural harmony that enhances the overall energy of the design. The saturated Germantown hues lend vibrancy and precision to these forms, reminiscent of mountain silhouettes, ceremonial adornment, or thunderous motion. The rug’s overall composition is a striking interplay of symmetry and movement—an optical chorus of color and form.
This antique kilim rug exemplifies how the Southwestern weaving tradition evolved during a time of cultural and economic change, embracing new materials while honoring visual languages rooted in the land. More than a decorative textile, this Germantown-style rug is a historical artifact—an enduring symbol of adaptation, resilience, and the creative fusion of regional aesthetics and outside influence.
Rendered in variegated shades of gray, red, black, and blue with other accent colors.
Abrash.
Handwoven wool.
Made in America.
Measures: 03'03 x 05'01.
Date: 1880's. Late 19th Century.
- Creator:Navajo (Weaver)
- Dimensions:Width: 39 in (99.06 cm)Length: 61 in (154.94 cm)
- Style:Spanish Colonial (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:Wool,Hand-Woven
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1880-1889
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Abrash.
- Seller Location:Dallas, TX
- Reference Number:Seller: 78423 Antique Southwestern-Style Kilim Rug, 03'03 x 05'011stDibs: LU942933913082
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