Caramel Brown Open-Field Çekme Tülü Rug, Turkey (c. 1940)

This rug is made from mohair. The material is naturally silk-like, lending the rug an enveloping softness and sheen. Woven entirely by hand, it was made by a skilled Turkmen weaver in the first half of the twentieth century.

Modernist DNA, from Mid-Century Turkey

Although more than 80 years old, the rug boast of a composition that is resolutely modern in spirit. Its open-field design creates an expressive block of color, with the warm, caramel-hued mohair at its center giving way to naturally dyed blue along the border edge. 

Framing the minimalist open field is a border of chocolate brown. Soft blue, achieved through the use of a natural indigo dye, overtakes one end of the border and speckles the adjacent field in subtle streaks that lend visual interest throughout.

Sumptuous and soft, this generously sized accent rug exemplifies the aesthetic potential of tribal art from the early twentieth century. In terms of construction the rug is a çekme—an obscure village weaving technique practiced in south-central Turkey’s Konya region, a historic center of angora sheep herding.

It is a relative of the more familiar shaggy variety of tülü, a village rug with dense, unkempt pile. This piece, by contrast, has a looped surface that is orderly and neat. To achieve the finish, each knot of hand-spun mohair has been carefully drawn over a wooden rod, withdrawn by the weaver after completing a full row.

Condition and Use

This rug is in excellent condition. The mohair is rich in lanolin, and retains its natural spring and luster. It has no noted flaws.

This rug is recommended for floor use only in moderate or low-traffic areas. Although the mohair is strong and springy, the looped knots risk snagging or breakage in placements where foot traffic is high. Use as a decorative throw or on a wall will ensure the rug’s preservation long into the future. If used on the floor, a rug pad is recommended.