Fethiye Kilim - Anatolia. Circa 1900. 110 × 84 Cm. Rug

This piece is wild—it’s almost dizzying. There’s a kinetic energy in its composition: the eye never stays in one place; it’s drawn from one motif to the next.

Look, for example, at the center. The successive shapes seem to draw us into the rug, as if they were opening up into another dimension. The central motif becomes a focal point. The broken lines and shifts in texture further reinforce this sense of movement, which the indigo blues seem to accompany.

The choice of colors and their arrangement give the composition an almost vibrant energy. Reds, indigo blues, cream tones, and more muted shades intertwine and echo one another. Their brilliance is so vivid that the colors seem almost liquid. Perhaps it is the movement of the forms that creates this impression: around the center, they unfold, contract, and seem to draw the colors along, as if causing them to flow from one motif to the next. The composition might seem unrestrained, almost free of any rules; yet every shape and every color appears masterfully organized, driven by boundless creativity.

And take a look at the motifs that make up each end. One can make out stylized ram’s horns; their shapes, too, seem caught up in this movement that runs through the entire piece.

Connoisseurs and collectors will recognize at first glance a kilim from Fethiye, in southwestern Anatolia. There’s no doubt about it: its design bears the hallmark of this region’s great Anatolian tradition. Woven wool-on-wool, it features fine, precise workmanship that supports the composition and highlights its full power.

Fethiye Kilim, Anatolia
Woven wool on wool
Circa 1900
DIM: 110 × 84 cm

Choosing an antique rug or textile is often a matter of serendipity.
If one of our pieces catches your eye, or if you’d like more information or photos, I’d be happy to discuss it with you.

Laurent Consul
Beauty of Kilims
06 42 61 73 46