Tribal Rugs and Carpets

A vintage Turkish flat-weave Kilim accent carpet handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 6' 10" x 9' 7" Flat-weave rugs & carpets: Knotted pile rugs are just one small part of a vast universe of textile techniques suitable for heavy use. If you can imagine it, some weaver has tried it out. Pieces can be roughly divided into those reversible from the start and those never, or at least not initially, reversible. Thus, kilims are considered reversible, while everything else is not. Kilims are tapestry woven rugs with both sides the same, in either slit technique where colors change, or with various methods of avoiding slits. Slit tapestry weave goes back to ancient times and Coptic Egyptian weavers used it for ornaments on garments and larger wall hangings. Slits can be avoided by dovetailing of colors (warp sharing) or by interlocking the wefts. The Navajo weavers of the Southwest practice the first while the Fine shawl weavers of Kashmir and Kerman employed the second. Interlocking produces a one-faced fabric, with smooth and rough, ridged faces. The typical Turkish, Caucasian, or Persian rustic Kilim shows slits, but never long ones. Aubusson French carpets are also slit tapestries and the long color transitions are sewn up as part of the regular maintenance. Some kilims are very Fine. The best antique urban Sehna (Senna) kilims on wool, cotton or silk warps approximate the comparable rugs in refinement and are the most desirable of all Persian kilims. Although the various flatweave techniques are usually expressed in geometric, simple, often repeating, patterns, Sehna kilims demonstrate that even the most intricate designs can be effectively rendered in flat-stich. The term ‘Kilim’ has been extended to cover any pileless, weft-faced heavy textile. Thus, the sectioned and joined northeastern Persian horizontally striped wool rugs are called ‘kilims’. So are the plain-weave end finishes of pile rugs. All these are weft-faced, weft patterned flatweaves. These sectioned pieces are woven not on a frame loom, but one steadied by the weaver at one end and with the warps fastened down at the other. Only relatively recent have these tribal pieces become available. They are used as floorcoverings, hangings, room dividers, furniture covers. They are mostly bitonal in shades of natural dark brown and beige. Some more recent pieces show weaver innovations with ikat and moire effects. Work proceeds quickly and a skilled weaver can complete a thirty foot strip in almost no time. Wefts, the elements added as weaving progresses, play an essential part in what is a flatweave. The best-known example of an extra-weft, wrapping technique is on Caucasian and tribal Persian Soumaks, where a pattern weft wraps around the fixed warp, changing as weaving progresses. Soumaks can be large carpets, Kuba in the Caucasus, small bag faces (Caucasian and Persian Shah Savan saddle bags), or cover scatter rugs (Persian Afshars). The Soumak technique is fast, and a weaver can work much more quickly than tying knots. The left-over wefts are cut off on the back, so the front and back are initially different. As a Soumak on the floor gets used, these weft yarns wear away and the two sides converge although the exact texture remains distinct. There are other ways of pattern by weft. Often on smaller tribal pieces, the pattern weft(s) is (are) part of the weft structure, moving in an out, and holding the whole thing together. These wefts can be complementary or added (supplementary), continuous across the flatweave or cut off as they travel unneeded across the verso. Supplementary weft flatweaves are often very compact and substantial. The nomadic Turkmen and Balouch tribes employ both supplementary and complementary weft techniques on their pieces. Supplementary wefts are often raised on the recto (front) while complementary wefts are flat to the surface. Tribal Kurds employ this extra-wefting technique. The Balouch of Pakistan use complementary wefts almost exclusively on their small woven paraphernalia like salt bags. Flatweave techniques may be combined on a single piece. Afshar rugs employ plain-weave end strips, preceded by Soumak bands, with pile sections between. The large Bakhtiari saddlebags feature Soumak work, pile “islands” an areas of plain-weave. Qashqai rugs and kilims frequently displays checkerboard end strips in continuous, complementary wefting. Another distinct flatweave type is the jajim (jijim, cecim) in which a pattern is added with colored wefts as the weaving of the plain-weave ground progresses. Here the wefts are discontinuous and the pattern stands proud from the voided ground. Often made in two pieces on narrow looms and edge-sewn together, these may have geometric patterns. The term ‘jajim’ also refers to the assembled warp-faced strip and stripe covers from the Shah Savan of northwest Persia, the pattern is defined by warps alone, usually in plain stripes, but sometimes in designs of ladders, snakes, human figures and various animals. Here the color changing warps are continuous. Most are wool, a few are silk. Better to call these something else. Indian ‘Dhurries’ are all cotton kilims and ‘shatrangis’ employ wool wefts on cotton warps. Dhurries are slitless. The cotton texture is more appropriate to the humid and warm climate of the Indian subcontinent. Modern Dhurries...

Vintage midcentury Moroccan Beni Ourain Berber tribal rug Our vintage Moroccan rugs are part of a skillfully curated collection of rare and unusual designs. They are made of all-nat...

Featuring a colorway of red, blue and off-white, this 5x7 vintage Afghan tribal kilim rug, handwoven in wool, circa 1950-1960, features plaid-like play of stripes and geometric patte...

Our vintage Moroccan rugs are part of a skillfully curated collection of rare and unusual designs. They are made of all-natural dyes and 100% handspun wool from the Atlas Mountain re...

A vintage Persian Karajeh throw rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 1' 11" x 2' 10".

This vintage 4 x 6 Persian rug is a rare tribal piece, hand-knotted in wool circa 1950-1960. Further on the Design: Its design enjoys many pictorial patterns in a series of squares throughout the field. Connoisseurs will further note how few pictorials like this boast such a range of colors and variety of patterns. Keen eyes will admire geometric figures including humans, trees, animals, and even a house in the center medallion. Its sheer attention to colorway variation, too, is commendable, as is its vibrant colors and good condition. Tribal pictorial rugs...

Hand-knotted in wool, this 3x5 Baluch Afghan rug of the 1950s is the latest to enter Rug & Kilim’s Antique & Vintage collection. On the Design: The piece carries diamond patterns i...

Our vintage Moroccan rugs are part of a skillfully curated collection of rare and unusual designs. They are made of all-natural dyes and 100% handspun wool from the Atlas Mountain re...

This contemporary 3x10 runner is a new addition to Rug & Kilim's Homage Collection. Hand-knotted in wool and cotton, it recaptures caucasian tribal patterns in soft colors and approa...

This vintage 3x15 Persian kilim is a rare extra-long runner from the Qashqai tribe, handwoven in wool circa 1950-1960. Its technique is a mid-century Jajim Kilim style, in which t...

An antique Persian Afshar accent rug handmade during the Early 20th century. Measures: 4' 9" x 6' 8"

This vintage 5x7 Persian Kilim is a tribal rug of Varamin provenance. Handwoven in wool, it originates circa 1950-1960. On the Design: This flat weave enjoys a minimalist desi...

An antique tribal Beshir accent rug in gallery format handmade during the early 20th century by the nomadic tribes of Central Asia. Measures: 6' 2" x 10' 10".

Hand knotted in wool originating circa 1890-1900, this antique Persian rug connotes a rare Lori rug design, known among the most uncommon tribal rug lineages for geometric figures li...

The Mid-Century Modern Collection is skillfully sourced by N A S I R I and exclusive to our showroom. These flatweaves embody the minimalist sophistication that emerged in the mid-20...

This flatweave is from a rare pair of twin 3x17 vintage Persian Kilim runner rugs, hand-knotted in wool circa 1950-1960. These tribal runners are nearly identical in size and design,...

A vintage American flatweave throw rug handmade by the Navajo tribe during the mid-20th century. Measures: 2' 7" x 4' 4".

Anatolian rugs originated from Anatolia, also referred to as Asian Turkey, due to its geographical location. They are hand knotted, pile rugs made of natural fibers and dyes. Many of...

Hand knotted in wool originating from the Gabbeh tribal weavers circa 1950-1960, this mid-century Persian rug enjoys a visually bold vintage diamond pattern...

A vintage Persian Baluch carpet from the second quarter of the 20th century.

Morocco, circa 1940 Measures: 15'3" x 10'7" (465 x 323 cm) Handwoven.

An 8x10 ode to celebrated tribal rug styles, from Rug & Kilim’s Burano Collection. Hand knotted in wool, sporting rich red and uncommon pink hues throughout all over geometric patter...

Paying tribute to the nomadic sensibilities of Baluchistan, a 2x3 antique Baluch rug coming from Persia circa 1920-1930. The hand-knotted wool rug displays a tribal geometric pattern...

Hand-knotted in wool and circa 1950-1960, this vintage 5x10 Moroccan rug is believed to hail from the Azilal tribe. On the Design: This rug enjoys polychromatic patterns in preva...

This original Moroccan rug is styled after the Beni Ourain rugs that were produced by the nomadic Berber tribes in North Africa for centuries. Beni Ourain rugs are identified by thei...

This 2x3 rug is a regal new entry to Rug & Kilim’s custom classics Burano collection. hand knotted in wool. Further on the Design: This accent rug is a contemporary take on Kh...

An antique Persian Kurdish Bidjar rug. An enormous serrated straw octagon and two vertical similar half octagons dominate the abrashed blue-grey field with floating side filler light...

Hand-knotted in wool originating from Turkey circa 1950-1960, a rare vintage mid-century pictorial rug in beige and brown colors. Enjoying a tasteful abrash in the background and fie...

A finely hand-knotted vintage Turkish carpet from 1960s. The rug has even low wool pile on cotton foundation. It is heavy and lays flat on the floor, in very good condition with no i...

Gorgeous Rustic Warm Tone Tribal Geometric Design Modern Contemporary Area Rug, Country of origin: Central Asia, Circa date: Modern Rugs

This vintage 5x6 tribal Kilim is a new addition to Rug & Kilim’s mid-century curations. Handwoven in wool, it originates from Afghanistan circa 1950-1960. On the Design: This flat...

Hand knotted in wool, this 6x8 Baluch rug represents a new line of tribal carpets in the Modern Classics Collection by Rug & Kilim. Each piece represents the work of women weavers i...

Handwoven in wool, circa 1950-1960, this 4x9 Afghani tribal Kilim rug, features an open red field and midnight blue medallions, along with several bright, playful colors but especial...

This vintage 5x10 Persian Kilim is a mid-century tribal rug - latest to join our Kilim & Flatweave collection. On the Design: Handwoven in wool circa 1950-1960, the piece carries ...

a 2nd quarter of the 20th century Persian Gabbeh old square rug with an all-over design in earth tones Details rug no. j4494 size 6' 7" x 7' (201 x 213 cm)

An antique Persian Kurd rug from the early 20th century.

A vintage Persian Malayer accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 4' 0" x 5' 10" Persian rugs & carpets: Persia (Iran) is a moderately large country with a very long history and an enormous art/craft/industry built around the handmade carpet. Until the discovery of oil, carpets were the largest Persian export. The craft goes back to ancient times, although the history is more broken than one might expect or desire. The Pazyryk rug...

This vintage 4x5 Persian Gabbeh rug is the latest grand entry to Rug & Kilim’s curation of rare tribal pieces. Hand-knotted in wool circa 1950-1960. On the Design: This vintage Ga...

A vintage 4x5 Persian Gabbeh rug in the latest entry to Rug & Kilim’s curation of rare tribal pieces. Hand-knotted in wool circa 1950-1960. On the Design: This piece emanates a...

This vintage 5x7 Persian rug is a rare mid-century Gabbeh piece that originates from the Qashqai tribe. Hand-knotted in wool circa 1950-1960, its...

A vintage Turkish Anatolian square room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century with a large scale tribal design over a solid orange background with light and dark striation...

A vintage Persian Gabbeh modernist carpet from the mid-20th century. A vintage Persian Gabbeh rug. The khaki field of this small square tribal scatter is closely covered by a nested ...

A finely hand-knotted vintage Turkish carpet from 1960s. The rug has even low wool pile on cotton foundation. It is heavy and lays flat on the floor, in very good condition with no i...

This vintage 9x10 Persian Kilim is handwoven in wool, and originates circa 1950-1960. On the Design: This flatweave enjoys red and beige-brown stripes with notes of fuschia an...

A modern Turkish large room size carpet handmade during the 21st century inspired by Moroccan rugs of the mid-20th century period. Measures: 14' 2" x 18' 8".

An antique Persian Bidjar small room size carpet handmade during the early 20th century. Measures: 7' 3" x 11' 9".

Hand knotted in wool pile originating circa 1950-1960, this vintage Persian rug connotes a midcentury Gabbeh tribal rug design, further remarking a rare play of gray, red, and green ...

This Vintage Moroccan Berber hand-knotted wool rug is hand-carded with all natural dyes in black and red. Selectively curated from thousands of pieces, our Moroccan Collection repres...

This vintage 5x6 Persian Kilim is a midcentury tribal rug, handwoven in wool circa 1950-1960. Its design most likely represents a Jajim-style Kilim–a flat-weaving technique in wh...

This vintage 6x7 Persian Kilim is a rare midcentury tribal rug, handwoven in wool circa 1950-1960. Its design most likely represents a Jajim-style Kilim–a flat-weaving technique ...

This hand knotted rug is made of 100% wool and is entirely undyed. It has a very tribal, bohemian feel while still being quite neutral at the same time. The relief design in this rug...

This vintage 6x7 Persian kilim is a midcentury tribal rug, handwoven in wool circa 1950-1960. The design enjoys stripes alternating in tones of red, beige, and black with blue and...

A vintage Persian Baluch rug from the mid-20th century.

Hand-knotted in wool, this 2x4 Baluch Afghan rug of the 1950s is the latest to enter Rug & Kilim’s prestigious Antique & Vintage collection. On the Design: The vintage Baluch rug f...

A vintage Persian flat-weave tribal Kilim room size accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 6' 1" x 9' 7".

This vintage 5x9 Persian Kilim is a mid-century tribal rug believed to hail from the Shahsavan tribe. On The Design: Handwoven in wool circa 1950-1960, the very interesting pi...

A 7x7 rug inspired by antique Persian Gabbeh rugs—from Rug & Kilim’s Modern Classics Collection. Hand-knotted in wool, it depicts a playful symphony of brigh...

This vintage 6x6 Persian Kilim is believed to be a Bidjar tribal rug of the Jajim flatweave style—handwoven in wool circa 1950-1960. On the Design: The field is done in a stria...