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Rashwan Infinity Kilim
Added 6/7/2007
By RugCollector
In Antique Rugs
Status Public
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329
Avg. Rating
Rated Excellent [5.0 out of 5]
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Rashwan Infinity Kilim
Images:
Rashwan Infinity Kilim 1
Rashwan Infinity Kilim 2
Rashwan Infinity Kilim 3
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Antique Tribal Weavings
Antique Tribal Weavings
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Item Value: $4,700.00
Type: Kilim
Country of origin: Turkey
Region of origin: Sivas
Artisan's heritage:

Rashwan
Period made: Late 19th Century
Size:

15'4" x 6'1"
Shape: Rectangle
Assembly: Flat wove in two panels on a narrow nomadic loom and then joined together.
Technique: Plain weave, accompanied by slit-weave.
Weft: Wool
Warp:

Undyed ivory wool. Plain 3" fringe at one end. Knotted, corded 8" long at other end.
Brocade:

The finsih is superb with carefully executed designs neatly outlined with contrasting colors of weft-wrapping yarns.

The field contains scattered brocades that signify marraige (bride's slippers) and those that protect livestock from wolves (wolf's mouth).

Scattered small cicim brocaded motifs.
Design:

Rhomboidal elements: 3 interlocking columns of 3, 11 partial rhomboiuds fill the space up to the border.
Dye:

Vegetal, some not used after WW1
Main color: Brick Red
Additional colors:

Ivory (no dye)
Dark Brown
Nut Brown

Medium Green
Burgundy
Rasberry Red
Light Blue
Medium Blue
Royal Blue
Dark Blue
Aubergine
Marigold
Quality: Superb
Features:

 o The highest quality of wool and dyes were expertly used. It is of the highest quality wool with a silky texture. The design halves in each panel match up prefectly. This type of kilim was not easy to weave.

o The unique 8-armed motifs woven into the rug above the first medallions appear to be a tribal mark.

o The field is cutoff by the border in such a way that the field represents infinity extending beyond the border.
Condition: Excellent
Defects:

Very small areas at the corners have been restored. Some of the warps have been locally replaced in the process.
Notes

Rashwans settled in east-central Anatolia from the Mardin Provence at the Syrian border up through Sivas. The design motif is used in Malatya and Sivas, although the Malatyan examples are typically darker than this rug with bright wide ranging colors.

Flat weaves of this dimension were typically used for tent wall decor or to cover the divan.Woven fabric loops along horizontal edge suggest that it was used as a privacy curtain or on a tent wall.

The field/border is connected with a common comb/fence like design (parmakil) that is meant to contain the power of the rug and fend off negative influences (evil eye).

The border is filled with a single line of stached bereket/dogum motifs representing fertility and birth. Inside each of these is the nazarlik motif which was believed to defend against evil forces.

Much more complex design than published similar examples in the Brooklyn and Sivas museums.


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