Kazak Kilim. Caucasus. Circa 1900. 280 X 165 Cm

Rebirth, or the secret to a restoration done by the book. We are accustomed to receiving antique pieces that deserve attention commensurate with their prestige. Our gallery then becomes a sanctuary, and the process begins with a discussion with our restorer, Saïd, to plan the priorities and the various steps. On this kilim, all of the outer borders were completely reworked by hand. The warp was visible in several places, and the weft also had to be reworked here and there. Matching the colors and spinning the wool by hand to achieve the perfect diameter—it’s quite an art, and when 15 years of experience are focused on this meticulous task, the visual result is nothing short of magic.
This explains the admirable condition of this Kazakh-patterned kilim from the Caucasus today.
The Turks have a beautiful expression to compliment work executed to perfection: “Eline sağlık.” It means “Health to your hands.” That says it all.
Let’s now turn our attention to the composition and narrative vocabulary of this exceptional piece. At first glance, it’s already clear that this piece belongs to the broad family of kilims organized around successive horizontal bands of varying widths. The visual impact of this type of piece is immediate; it speaks to the viewer at a glance, inviting exploration of its depths and contrasts. Everything is based on a perfect balance of volumes and a delightful harmony of exclusively plant-based dyes, as if following a golden rule. The indigo blues are incandescent; the large motifs against the ecru background resemble diamonds on the surface. These large motifs are arranged in groups of four across four wide horizontal bands. 16.
They depict stylized scorpions and symbolize protection.
They are separated by thinner bands featuring a flowing water motif, evoking vitality and fertility. There are also smaller star-shaped motifs on thin ecru bands—once again, representing the Eye’s protection against the evil eye.
As for the weaving and texture, I’ll simply say that it would be hard to do better, if that were even possible. The piece is surprisingly light and fine, with the perfect amount of suppleness. It’s divine.
The entire history of the nomadic peoples of the Caucasus unfolds in a polychrome display on the immaculate surface of this ancient woven art—the very art that brought fame to their weavers, to whom we pay tribute every day through our passion...

Circa 1880–1900
Dimensions: 280 x 165 cm

Laurent
Beauty of Kilims