Kilim Fragment. Malatya. Anatolia. Circa 1880. 98 X 45 Cm

We bought this piece last year in Istanbul from a collector friend. It’s a little treasure, originally from the renowned Malatya region in southeastern Anatolia.
In the world of antique textile collectors, just say “Malatya,” and people will listen!
This morning, I went to pick up this little marvel using my QR code at the post office.
Encased in a pristine white plastic sleeve, the package felt as light as air—it could have slipped right into the pocket of my shorts.
At times like this, I head straight to the Gallery. I can’t say if I ran into anyone along the way. In short, I’m alone. I cleared off the work surface, where there are always two or three box cutters lying around. I chose the sharpest one and, like a surgeon, with small, precise movements, I began to open it...
You have to know one thing: Turks are masters of the art of packaging; back home, it’s a science, and they don’t mess around with it.
Once out of its wrapper, the object—no bigger than a pair of rolled-up socks—was wrapped and protected by numerous layers of impenetrable plastic wrap.
One by one, sheet after sheet, the little “mummy” was revealed to me, right at the woven section with its gorgeous pomegranate hue!
That, in a nutshell, is where our passion lies.

Mixed media
Wool on wool
Breathtaking plant-based dyes
Lightness, suppleness.
Refinement
A small museum-quality piece
Superb condition
Circa 1880
Dimensions: 98 x 45 cm

Laurent
Beauty of Kilims