The ancient art of kilim weaving originates in Turkey.
Tribal peoples in Turkey originated the art of kilim weaving. Originally a utilitarian craft for processing raw wool into cloth for clothing and household goods, generations of artisans transformed kilim weaving into an art, combining the tribe's common history and the personal talents of each weaver.
History
Nomadic sheep-herding tribes of Anatolia--ancient Turkey--and Persia--ancient Iran--produced kilim fabric. According to Peter Davies, an expert on kilim weaving, fabric fragments dating to 6000 B.C. attest to the longevity of the kilim tradition.
Features
Warp strands are vertical; weft strands are horizontal.
The word kilim does not refer to a specific item but rather to the way the item is made. Kilim is a specialized weaving technique in which the weaver interlaces the warp (the vertical fibers) and weft (the horizontal fibers) on a loom to produce a flat woven result.
Significance
Kilim artisans weave traditional tribal designs into their fabrics that serve to identify their ancestry and regional affiliations. Each weaver develops a personal style as well. A piece of kilim can be a record of tribal and individual history.
Considerations
Traditional kilim is woven from sheep's wool.
Kilim weaving is a traditional women's craft. Women helped to raise the sheep that produced the wool, cleaned and carded it, spun and dyed it, then wove the material into cloth. Similar to the quilting tradition of American women pioneers, kilim fabric is a legacy of women's life through many generations.
Fun Fact
Anatolian and Persian women traditionally use drop spindles rather than stationary spinning wheels to process their wool into yarn. Due to their nomadic lifestyle and their profusion of household duties, women had to snatch any spare moments for spinning by carrying a spindle with them throughout the day.
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