Weaving through Turkey's history of kilims

An ancient legend tells of a nomadic Turk chief who stopped his horse in front of a tent where a recently made "kilim" — a woven tapestry rug — hung. He immediately asked for the father of the girl who made it. When the father appeared, the chief told him, “Let your daughter marry the man she loves.” The father said, “That is not possible because he is poor, just as we are.” The chief convinced the father with a reward, and added, “Tell your daughter go easy on the crimson color with green sections.” The legend is told to express respect for love, but also that the designs of a kilim can speak louder than thousands of words.

Traditionally, kilims were made for home use in Anatolia, from prayer rugs to precious dowry items. Kilim weaving dates back to the eighth and ninth centuries CE.

These rugs can be found everywhere from Mongolia to the Balkans. Lighter than regular carpets and more versatile, the flat-woven kilims are easier to carry and clean, practical for nomadic tribes traveling on horseback. Compared with carpets, a kilim is cheaper and less time-consuming to weave, which makes it ideal for the nomadic lifestyle. In the old days, kilims were used to line cradles and carry the dead to their graves.

There is more to kilims than practicality, however: Kilims are a form of self-expression for Anatolian women. Their sorrows, joys and tales are told through their choices of color, motifs and patterns, making the most precious kilims unique. Women use their bare hands, natural dye and mostly wool to weave their dreams, wishes and experiences upon a canvas, just like any other artist. This is precisely why when one enters the store of Recep Karaduman in the Grand Bazaar, more than a carpet show awaits. Karaduman has been in the business of collecting one-of-a-kind kilims from local businesses all over the country since 1966. Run by four partners, the store is best known for amazing orator and art expert Hikmet Sirlak. One of the truly charming characters of the Grand Bazaar, his talks about kilims are riveting.