Kilim. Woven Strip From A Shasaven Nomadic Tent. Persia. Circa 1900. 700 X 7 Cm

Seven meters of nomadic woven fabric that have survived to this day in their entirety. An almost impossible-to-find object, straddling the line between ethnographic textile, graphic artwork, and collectible.

This extraordinary woven strip was part of the tent furnishings of the Shahsevan people of Persia. Narrow and extremely long, it was used to secure and circle the tent canvas around its frame, thus combining a purely utilitarian function with remarkable decorative craftsmanship.
What makes this specimen exceptional is, above all, its integrity. Fragments of these bands are sometimes found on the market, taken from sets that have become incomplete or too damaged. Here, the piece has survived intact: seven continuous meters of weaving, displaying an almost uninterrupted succession of tribal geometric motifs.
Diamonds, cross-shaped forms, chevrons, and highly stylized plant motifs follow one another with astonishing freedom. The narrow width of just 7 cm demands a true feat of skill from the weaver: creating a rich decorative vocabulary within an extremely constrained space. The result possesses a striking graphic modernity today.
The color palette deserves special attention. Against a very dark, almost brown-black background, ivory-to-natural-beige motifs stand out, accompanied by madder red, subtle ochre tones, and—most notably on the selvedges—a magnificent deep indigo blue paired with a striking dark bottle green. 
These bands were woven on very rudimentary horizontal looms, adapted to a nomadic lifestyle. A few wooden components, the warp threads stretched lengthwise, and the weaver’s skill were all that was needed to create several meters of a meticulous and perfectly rhythmic design.
Its condition is nothing short of a miracle.
Shahsevan – Persia.
Circa 1900 or earlier.
Wool, traditional weaving.
Exceptional condition.

Dimensions: 700 × 7 cm

Laurent
Beauty of Kilims

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