The Art of KILIM in ANATOLIA Up to recent centuries Turkish women had been leading rather conservative lives and finding fulfilment in their kilim into which they blended their colour and design in a perfect composition reflecting their inmost thoughts and feelings. Meticulous care was given to the motifs for the trousseau thus yielding us a treasure of art revealing the never-ending patience and high artistic discernment of the weaver. What a pity it is that such works of art were used for practical everyday usage and so worked on durable materials and that they gained so much admiration from foreign visitors who took them out of the country. Each region of Turkey produced its own designs usually symbolic depictions on the lives they led as, for example, seen in the Black Sea coast where the restrictions of nature come out in a mixture of bound and dynamic lines.

OrientalWind.com's aim is to protect meticulously the collected original works of art in Turkish kilims and pass them on to those coming after us along with the work of the contemporary weaver and so avoid losing the characteristic expression in art.

Anatolia, its rich waters, magnificent mountains and lush forests have always attracted peoples. The rich cultural diversity here arises from the role Anatolia plays as a bridge between continents. That is why Anatolia is called the cradle of civilizations. Each new civilization followed the traces of the previous one, even going so far as to restore elements of its predecessor, using holy places regardless of what the original religion was. With the works of art and handicraft they produced in these lands, all the civilizations that were founded and established in Anatolia have secured a place in the world art history, creating a magnificent mosaic. It is the blend that we call the genuine Anatolian style, and the motifs and their meanings mentioned in this book are a small part of it. The symbols that have been handed down to us through the ages have been successfully maintained to this day and are still a part of the living traditions and lifestyle in Anatolia.

Turkish Kilims

The art of carpet and kilim weaving is a centuries old tradition in Turkey dating back 3500 years. As is well known, Turkish carpets and rugs, the earliest examples of which date from the 13th century, are famous worldwide. Turkish carpets and kilims were inspired by a rich source molded and shaped by numerous cultures succeeding each other for thousands of years. Anatolian carpets and kilims with their lively colours, motifs, patterns and superior quality, have worldwide reputation. Natural dyes were used and many families kept knowledge of which leaves, flowers, roots and vegetables would yield the most radiant colours.

Kilims of the central and western Anatolian regions are woven by the known as "Zili" and "Cicim", while those of the eastern and southeastern Anatolian regions appear to be of the type known as "Sumak", which originated in the Caucaus Kilims of Eastern Anatolia, unlike their counterparts from central, western and southern Anatolia, with their lively coloured compositions, tend to use more sober tones. In Turkish kilims generally wool or silk are used.

What is a kilim?

Rugs are flat(pileless), un-knotted hand-woven textiles used as floor and wall coverings. In this context, knotted textiles are called carpets and as is known, they may be hand-woven or machine-made.

Kilim, a word of Turkish origin, is often applied in common usage both in Turkey and the world to all flatwoven(pileless) rugs but actually it denotes only those flatwoven rugs which are made by a technique peculiar to kilims. In other words, rugs are classified according to the weaving technique and in Turkey, named as kilims, cicim, sumak, zili or sili, palaz and others. Unlike carpets, rugs are woven on a loom using vertical warps and horizontal wefts to weave the threads together much as any handmade fabric is woven. Neverthless, throughout the brochure, the word "kilim" is used to denote all rugs.

Traditionally, kilims made through household production by women in rural areas.
Usually the warp(the length of kilim) is made of wool, and the weft(the width of kilim) of wool or cotton. The coloured threads are completely woven into the kilim like a basket, making it reversible. Although the face may be distinguished from the reverse, the difference is so slight that either side may be used.

Kilims, as a traditional art form, has preserved the original design and colour combinations of each production region. Although in every part of Turkey kilims have been woven, there are important kilim weaving centers in Turkey whose names reveal the value of their kilims. Each region produces its own unique style and design.

The visual language of Turkish kilims

Turkish kilim designs related to the basic elements of life: birth, fertility, marriage, spiritual life and happiness, love and unison, and death. They reflect the ancient cults and practices of their ancestors around these events. There are many symbols in the vocabulary of the weaver and many variations of each symbol.

Unlocking the keys to these symbols reveals a deeper insight into the values,dreams and culture of the Anatolian people and expresses layer upon layer of history and influence in the region. Patterns show a considerable variation from district to district and display major differences.

However, the most important patterns in Anatolian kilims are those representing male-female relations and fertility, incarnated in the hands on hips, ram's horn and fertility motifs. The other figures are human figures, fingers, hands, burdock, eyes, hairbands, family sign, ying-yang, fetter, dragons, scorpions, dragon's feet, wolf's prints, chest, birds, combs etc.

The colour and designs used in each region are exclusive to that region, making it easy to identify the origin. Variety in design and craftsmanship reflects traditions handed down from one generation to the next.