Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
Image 1 of 1
This vintage Kurdistan kilim from western Iran displays a beautiful array of rich colours with excellent wool and a dense, durable weave. The wool used in the pile is of very good quality, giving the piece a rich texture and substantial weight that adds to its tactile appeal.
Woven approximately 70 years ago, the kilim is made on a cotton foundation. The design is simple yet striking, created entirely from memory rather than from a drafted pattern. In traditional tribal weaving, the weaver often develops the pattern spontaneously as the work progresses. Achieving a design that appears balanced and almost symmetrical under such conditions requires remarkable skill and experience.
The slight irregularities visible in the pattern are part of the charm of authentic tribal weaving. Such pieces were commonly woven on horizontal nomadic looms made from simple wooden poles fixed to the ground. These portable looms could be dismantled and transported as tribes moved from one camp to another.
Because of the limitations of these looms, the width of the textile was often restricted while the length remained flexible, resulting in the long and narrow format seen here. Pieces like this were rarely produced for the market; they were woven as practical household textiles for the weavers’ own use.
This kilim reflects the cultural heritage of the Kurdish tribes of the Zagros Mountains, a region connected historically with the ancient lands of Mesopotamia. With its strong structure, beautiful colours, and authentic character, it can bring a distinctive layer of texture, history, and cultural depth to a modern or traditional interior.
Material: Wool pile on cotton foundation
Origin: Kurdistan region, western Iran
Age: Circa 1950s
Size: 344 × 141 cm
Item No.: 148652
This vintage Kurdistan kilim from western Iran displays a beautiful array of rich colours with excellent wool and a dense, durable weave. The wool used in the pile is of very good quality, giving the piece a rich texture and substantial weight that adds to its tactile appeal.
Woven approximately 70 years ago, the kilim is made on a cotton foundation. The design is simple yet striking, created entirely from memory rather than from a drafted pattern. In traditional tribal weaving, the weaver often develops the pattern spontaneously as the work progresses. Achieving a design that appears balanced and almost symmetrical under such conditions requires remarkable skill and experience.
The slight irregularities visible in the pattern are part of the charm of authentic tribal weaving. Such pieces were commonly woven on horizontal nomadic looms made from simple wooden poles fixed to the ground. These portable looms could be dismantled and transported as tribes moved from one camp to another.
Because of the limitations of these looms, the width of the textile was often restricted while the length remained flexible, resulting in the long and narrow format seen here. Pieces like this were rarely produced for the market; they were woven as practical household textiles for the weavers’ own use.
This kilim reflects the cultural heritage of the Kurdish tribes of the Zagros Mountains, a region connected historically with the ancient lands of Mesopotamia. With its strong structure, beautiful colours, and authentic character, it can bring a distinctive layer of texture, history, and cultural depth to a modern or traditional interior.
Material: Wool pile on cotton foundation
Origin: Kurdistan region, western Iran
Age: Circa 1950s
Size: 344 × 141 cm
Item No.: 148652