Chuval (grain Sack). Yörük / Mersin. Anatolia. Circa 1930. 98 X 78 Cm. Rug

A traditional grain sack belonging to the textile tradition of the Yörük people of the Taurus Mountains in the Mersin region, this çuval (Chuval) is first and foremost an everyday object of nomadic life.

Designed to store and transport grain, it exemplifies the Yörük weavers’ unique ability to transform a strictly utilitarian object into a particularly elaborate piece. Bags, pouches, and other containers played an essential role in the material culture of the nomadic peoples of Anatolia.

The piece combines several weaving techniques. The wide, more understated side panels are woven, while the two central panels are crafted using the much more complex sumak technique. This contrast gives the composition its full impact: large, solid-colored areas frame an extremely dense and graphic center.
The two central panels feature a vertical sequence of diamonds, hooks, and interlocking geometric shapes, arranged with remarkable precision. The design is powerful, almost architectural, yet retains the small irregularities characteristic of entirely hand-woven work.

The color palette plays a major role in the piece’s character. Brick red and madder red, deep brown, ochre, orange, dusty pink, and ivory complement one another in a warm and particularly harmonious range. The ivory motifs bring light and contrast to the two central bands, while the large, much more unadorned side panels give the piece its overall balance.

Beyond its graphic qualities, this çuval above all retains a genuine ethnographic dimension. It belongs to that family of textile objects that were an integral part of the daily life and travels of nomadic peoples: pieces designed to serve, transport, and preserve, but to which the weavers’ craftsmanship also imparted a genuine aesthetic identity.

Now repurposed from its original function, it can naturally be presented as a textile piece in its own right. Its size also makes it possible to envision it as a very large floor cushion: an interesting way to restore its utilitarian function while preserving the decorative power and history of this ancient nomadic object.

Mixed media
Wool on wool
Yörük / Mersin, Anatolia
Circa 1930
Dimensions: 98 x 78 cm

Laurent
Beauty of Kilims