KARS Vintage Kilim Rug 426cm x 138cm

• Unique vintage rug - only one in stock!
• Material: 100% high-quality, hand-spun virgin wool
• Craftsmanship: Flat-woven by hand on traditional wooden loom
• Age: Vintage / Semi-antique. Circa 1960s
• Condition: Vintage in mint condition due to extensive cleaning and restoration process
• Origin: Kars, Anatolia
• Dimensions: 426cm x 138cm, Height: 3mm

Region of Origin

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

Symbolism

In Anatolia, a variety of symbols and patterns were used in traditional kilims and carpets, with origins in the Neolithic period. Over millennia, nomadic and village women wove themes into their carpets that were significant to their lives. One of the main symbols is the figure of "Elibelinde", representing 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, thereby acquiring multifaceted meanings. Thus, each carpet tells its own story in the form of woven poetry.

Production

Our vintage kilims and carpets were made entirely by hand from the early 20th century up to the 1970s. In the first step, the weaver sheared, washed, carded, 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 unleash her creativity and control the coloring, while at the same time, the result was subject to a complex interplay of many factors, leading to a play of different nuances of a single color. This shading in the yarn or in the finished kilim or carpet is called Abrasch. After the yarn was finished, the warp threads were stretched as taut 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 intricately braided fringes. The production process often took several months, sometimes years, and was carried out either by a single weaver or by several women simultaneously. Often, grandmother, mother, sisters, other family members, or neighbors would sit together at a loom, telling each other stories or singing songs while weaving. Weaving a kilim served not only for 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 to pass on stories of past times in the form of woven poetry. 

Material

Wool is the most commonly used fiber in the production of Anatolian carpets. It is not only abundant in Turkey, but it is also a natural and very high-quality material. Especially hand-spun wool has particularly long fibers and a high content of lanolin (wool grease). This makes 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. A material that ages beautifully, is absolutely environmentally friendly, and free of harmful substances. It has the property to clean and regenerate itself, brings 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 valuable in large cities and when using electronic devices.

Cleaning and Restoration

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

Sun exposure and airing remove stubborn stains and discoloration, odors, moths, and bacteria. 

Through this intensive and natural cleaning process, we can completely avoid environmentally harmful chemicals or health-damaging anti-moth agents.

After sunbathing in Antalya, our kilims and carpets are mechanically dusted and then sent to Istanbul. In our atelier in the old town of Sultanahmet, each carpet is individually stretched into shape, the ends are re-knotted with a special technique so that the fabric cannot unravel. 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 treatment and careful care, 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. We recommend that you regularly and gently vacuum or beat your rug to remove dirt and grime. It is sufficient to vacuum your rug once or twice a month. Too frequent vacuuming can cause the knots and fibers to wear out faster. If your vacuum cleaner has a brush attachment, use this instead of a rotating beater bar.

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 take it for steam or dry cleaning – this will certainly damage the rug! Choose a rug cleaner that uses 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 cleaner, please feel free to contact us. We work with trusted oriental rug cleaners and restorers and can pass on discounted rates to our customers.

A stain, what now?
Blot the stain with a dry cloth until it is dry. If necessary, you can dab with a slightly damp cloth and a little olive soap. Please do not wash your rug yourself. If the stain does not come out, contact an oriental rug specialist immediately 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 be trapped in rugs with horizontal fibers (like flat weaves).

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