Mid-20th Century Turkish Rugs

A vintage Turkish flat-weave Kilim room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 10' 5" x 13' 5" 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...

A vintage Turkish Anatolian modern style runner handmade during the mid-20th century.

A vintage Turkish Oushak throw rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 3' 10" x 5' 10".

A vintage Turkish runner rug re-dyed in fuchsia pink color. Great for contemporary interiors. Finely hand knotted, low wool pile on cotton foundation. Professionally washed. Sturdy...

A vintage Turkish flat-weave Kilim large room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century with a salt and pepper pattern in shades of grey. Measures: 12' 4" x 14' 11".

A vintage handmade Turkish rug with a medallion design and over-dyed in red. It is finely hand-knotted with low wool pile on cotton foundation. It is in good condition, professionall...

A vintage Turkish Anatolian throw rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 3' 9" x 5' 10".

A vintage Turkish flat-weave Kilim room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century with a salt and pepper design creating an overall grey tone. Measures: 9' 11" x 13' 3" ...

A vintage Turkish area rug over-dyed in purple color. Measures: 6.2 x 10.2 ft The rug is finely hand-knotted, heavy, lays flat on the floor and has low wool pile on cotton foundation...

A vintage Turkish Anatolian modern style rug in runner format handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 3' 10" x 15' 3".

A vintage hand-knotted Turkish rug over-dyed in burgundy and mauve colors with a medallion design. It is finely hand knotted with low wool pile on cotton foundation, in very good con...

A vintage Turkish area rug re-dyed in burnt orange color for contemporary interiors. Finely hand knotted, low wool pile on cotton foundation. Professionally washed. Sturdy and can...

A vintage over-dyed handmade Turkish rug with a Minimalist design over-dyed in taupe gray. The rug is finely hand-knotted, has distressed low wool pile on cotton foundation. It is in...

A vintage Turkish area rug hand-knotted in the 1960s with low wool pile on cotton foundation with a medallion design. The rug was over-dyed in charcoal gray. It is in good condition,...

A vintage floral Turkish runner rug re-dyed in orange color. Great for contemporary interiors. Finely hand knotted, low wool pile on cotton foundation. Professionally washed. Sturdy ...

This distressed and orange-red overdyed carpet shows several random vertical, ecru zig-zags dominating a black squiggle pattern. A strong color splash.

A minimalist vintage Turkish area rug with a distressed look, over-dyed in navy blue color. The rug is finely hand-knotted, has low wool pile on cotton foundation. It is in very good...

A vintage Turkish flat-weave Kilim room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century with a salt and pepper pattern in grey. Measures: 10' 10" x 13' 5".

A vintage Turkish flatweave Kilim room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century in shades of white and brown. Measures: 10' 0" x 13' 3".

A vintage Turkish runner rug re-dyed in orange color. Great for contemporary interiors. Finely hand knotted, low wool pile on cotton foundation. Professionally washed. Sturdy and can...

A vintage Turkish area rug re-dyed in charcoal gray color for contemporary interiors. Finely hand knotted, low wool pile on cotton foundation. Professionally washed. Sturdy and can b...

A vintage Turkish runner rug re-dyed in fuchsia pink color for contemporary interiors. Finely hand knotted, low wool pile on cotton foundation. Professionally washed. Sturdy and ca...

A vintage Turkish flatweave Kilim room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century in shades of white, pink, and brown. Measures: 8' 11" x 12'.

A vintage Turkish flatweave Kilim room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century in shades of grey and silver. Measures: 8' 1" x 12' 8".

51346, vintage Turkish Sivas Gallery rug with stripes and nautical style, wide hallway runner. With its nautical style and cozy coastal vibes, this hand knotted wool vintage Turkish Sivas rug features a series of Bayadere stripes composed of horizontal nautical stripes rendered in navy, red, sky blue and beige. Whether at home on Long Island or Martha's Vineyard, this vintage striped rug...

A vintage handmade Turkish area rug over-dyed in gray with touches of brown, decorated with a medallion, leafy scrolls and large floral heads. The rug is finely hand-knotted, profess...

A vintage Turkish runner rug re-dyed in red color, great for contemporary interiors. Measures: 4.3 x 13.5 ft. Finely hand knotted, low wool pile on cotton foundation. Professionally...

A vintage distressed Turkish area rug re-dyed in blue color for contemporary interiors. Finely hand knotted, low wool pile on cotton foundation. Professionally washed. Sturdy and c...

A vintage Turkish Anatolian small room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 7' 9" x 10' 0".

A vintage Turkish flatweave Kilim gallery rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 5' 4" x 10' 10".

A vintage Turkish flatweave Kilim accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 7' 2" x 10' 7".

A vintage Turkish flatweave Kilim room size carpet handmade during the mid-20th century with a vertically striped multicolored pattern including s...

A vintage Turkish Anatolian modernist small rug in runner format handmade during the mid-20th century in shades of cream, light blue, and blue grey.

72489 vintage Turkish Oushak rug with Tribal Artisan style. This hand knotted wool vintage Turkish Oushak rug embodies an Artisan style. Immersed in Anatolian history and warm colors...

53276 Zeki Muren distressed vintage Turkish Sivas rug with Retro Art Deco style. With its geometric pattern, bold form and vibrant colors, this hand knotted wool distressed vintage T...

Pillow made from a vintage Turkish Oushak rug. Measures: 16'' x 16''.

52715, vintage Turkish Oushak rug with Art Deco style and Tribal Vibes. With a bold geometric form, Art Deco style, and retro flair, this hand knotted wool vintage Turkish Oushak rug...

A 7x8 vintage piece from one of the most unique Kilim collections, layering mid-century pile and flat weave rugs into a dynamic modern form. Handwoven in wool, playing shag pile in b...

53259, garden design vintage Turkish Oushak rug with modern coastal style. Balancing traditional sensibility and Coastal style, this hand knotted wool vintage Turkish Oushak rug is p...

A vintage Turkish flat-woven Kilim rug handmade during the mid-20th century. 3 offset sections with variating colors in persimmon, orange, coral, and dark blue are attached together ...

A vintage Turkish flat-weave Kilim accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century made up of 3 columns with several horizontal variating shades of color in grey (gray), white, and c...

A vintage Turkish flat-weave Kilim accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 6'6" x 9'10".

A vintage Turkish Anatolian rug handmade during the mid-20th century with a geometric stepped design in teal. Measures: 3' 1" x 7' 3".

A vintage Turkish flat-weave Kilim accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century with a striped design offset on 3 stitched panels. Measures: 6' 0" x 9' 9".

A vintage Turkish flat-weave Kilim accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century with a striped design offset on 3 stitched panels. Measures: 6' 1" x 8' 6".

A vintage Turkish Anatolian accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century with a modern and colorful design in jewel tones. Measures: 5' 0" x 8' 1".

51984, Distressed Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug with Shabby Chic Rustic Farmhouse Style 04'05 x 05'02. ​​This distressed vintage Turkish Sivas Accent rug with farmhouse shabby chic style...

A vintage Turkish Anatolian small throw rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 3' 5" x 4' 11".

Pillow made from a vintage 20th century Turkish Oushak rug. 14'' x 16''

50632, Vintage Turkish Oushak Accent Rug with Rustic Bungalow Style. This luxurious traditional style Oushak rug features a classic medallion and corner motif. The intricate medallio...

A vintage Turkish flat-weave Kilim accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century. Measures: 6' 2" x 8' 3".

51160, distressed vintage Turkish Sivas rug with modern style. Displaying a simplistic style and subtle color palette, this distre...

A vintage Turkish Art Deco accent rug handmade during the mid-20th century with a contemporary pattern in yellow and dark blue. Measures: 6' 7" x 9' 10".

This handwoven wool rug this handwoven flat-weave rug has graphic immediacy in its repeating pattern of alternating halved cream spheres set in black. These rugs fuse East and Wes...

A vintage Turkish Tulu rug. A tribal rug that fits very well with contemporary furniture. All in red with an extra-long lustrous pile and uncountable wefts. No borders. No pattern. L...

Dark brown traces of vases and branches come out of the general celery overdye on the distressed field with the off white of the foundation as a third ...

52716, vintage Turkish Oushak runner with warm Santa Fe Desert Tribal style. With its bold geometric form and Aztec flair combined with warm and vibrant colors, this hand knotted woo...

60802 Vintage Turkish Neutral Striped Kilim Rug, 06’07 x 09’07. Imbuing a sense of Wabi-Sabi grace into the realm of earth-tone elegance, this handwoven wool vintage Turkish striped ...