ESME Vintage Kilim 227x153cm

• Unique Vintage Rug - only one piece in stock!
• Material: 100% high-quality, hand-spun sheep's wool
• Craftsmanship: Flat-woven by hand on a traditional wooden loom
• Age: Vintage / Semi-antique. Circa 1960s
• Condition: Vintage in like-new quality due to extensive cleaning and restoration process
• Origin: Eşme, Anatolia
• Dimensions: 227cm x 153cm, Height: 3mm

Region of Origin

Anatolia makes up the majority of modern-day Turkey. Rugs from this region are characterized by their indigenous, geometric patterns – with many symbols reflecting a traditional way of life in harmony with nature. This heritage is an ancient, schematic culture of the Turkic peoples, passed down from generation to generation in the art of weaving.

Symbolism

In Anatolia, a variety of symbols and patterns with Neolithic origins were used in traditional kilims and rugs. For millennia, nomadic and village women have woven themes significant to their lives into their rugs. One of the main symbols is the "Elibelinde" figure, which represents the Cosmic Mother and her creative feminine power. Other motifs represent wishes, such as for happiness and children, while others serve as protection against threats like wolves, scorpions, or the evil eye. Motifs were often combined when woven into patterns on kilims, acquiring multi-layered meanings. Thus, each rug tells its own story in the form of woven poetry.

Manufacturing

Our vintage kilims and rugs were entirely handcrafted from the early 20th century until the 1970s. In the first step, the weaver sheared, washed, combed, and hand-spun the wool from her own sheep and goats into yarn.

Subsequently, the yarn bundles were dyed in an elaborate, manual process using natural pigments or alizarin dyes. Each individual shade had to be dyed separately. By dyeing independently, the weaver could give free rein to her creativity and had control over the coloring. At the same time, the result was subject to a complex interplay of many factors, always yielding a play of different nuances within a single color tone. This shading in the yarn or the finished kilim or rug is called "abrash." After the yarn was finished, the warp threads were stretched as tautly as possible over the warp beam of the wooden loom. Only then could the weaver begin weaving her kilim. Every motif, every symbol, every area was woven by hand with great love and patience until the finished kilim was created, and the ends of the kilim were knotted and often adorned with elaborately braided fringes. The manufacturing process often took several months, sometimes years, and was carried out either by a single weaver or by several women simultaneously. Thus, grandmothers, mothers, sisters, other family members, or neighbors often sat at a loom at the same time, telling each other stories or singing songs while weaving. Weaving a kilim was not only for the purpose of subsequent use, but the entire process was a ritual, a ceremony, a form of meditation and prayer, an expression of the weaver's emotions, and a medium for passing on stories of past times in the form of woven poetry. 

Material

Wool is the most commonly used fiber in the production of Anatolian rugs. It is not only abundant in Turkey, but also a natural and very high-quality material. In particular, hand-spun wool has especially long fibers and a high lanolin (wool grease) content, making it very durable, long-lasting, and antibacterial. 

Natural sheep's wool is a living material that, through the influence of sun, air, and water and careful use, becomes softer and shinier over the years. It is a material that ages beautifully, is absolutely environmentally friendly, and free of harmful substances. It has the ability to self-clean and regenerate, bringing warmth, a good indoor climate, and pleasant room acoustics to every home. In addition, sheep's wool and goat hair have the property of grounding our bodies and dissipating negative electrostatic charges. 

These positive properties prove particularly beneficial in large cities and when using electronic devices.

Cleaning and Restoration

The cleaning process of our vintage kilim rugs is cyclical and in harmony with nature. During the summer months, our rugs are first thoroughly washed with water and olive soap and then further cleaned for up to three months on our "Kilim Field" in Antalya, utilizing the power of the sun.

The sunning and airing remove stubborn stains and discolorations, odors, moths, and bacteria. 

This intensive and natural cleaning process allows us to completely avoid environmentally harmful chemicals or health-damaging moth repellents.

After sunbathing in Antalya, our kilims and rugs are mechanically dusted and then sent to Istanbul. In our atelier in the old town of Sultanahmet, each rug is individually stretched into shape, and the ends are re-knotted using a special technique to prevent the weave from unraveling. Holes or discolored areas are re-woven true to the original. The complete cleaning and restoration process takes between six months and two years, depending on the kilim.

With loving and careful treatment, our kilims and rugs can last for many more generations. Our rugs do not require a lot of maintenance, but they do need the right kind of care. We recommend that you regularly and carefully vacuum or beat your rug to remove dirt and debris. Vacuuming your rug once or twice a month is sufficient. Too frequent vacuuming can cause the knots and fibers to wear out faster. If your vacuum cleaner has a vacuum attachment, use it instead of a rotating brush.

Every few months, you should turn your rug over and vacuum the back to remove dirt from the underside of the rug. It is also helpful to rotate your rug once a year to ensure even wear.

We recommend having your rug professionally hand-washed every 3 to 5 years. Please do not have it steam or dry cleaned – this will certainly damage the rug! Choose a rug cleaner that uses a pH-neutral shampoo or olive soap for hand washing. The soap is worked into the rug by hand with a soft-bristled brush and then thoroughly rinsed. If you have any questions or need assistance in choosing a rug cleaning service, please do not hesitate to contact us. We work with trusted oriental rug cleaners and restorers and can pass on discounted rates to our customers.

A stain, now what?
Dab the stain with a dry cloth until it is dry. If necessary, you can dab it with a very slightly damp cloth and a little olive soap. Please do not attempt to wash your rug yourself. If the stain does not come out, immediately contact an oriental rug specialist for cleaning. Adding a lot of liquid can make stain removal more difficult and even worsen them. This is because moisture spreads along the fibers and can get trapped in rugs with horizontal fibers (like flat weaves).

Dried food residues can be easily scraped off or brushed out.