Striking Brown and Cream Mohair ‘X’ Rug, Turkey (c. 1925)

A statement piece in silky, undyed mohair, this kilim is an exception to the subtle minimalism typical of Siirt rugs.

Diving Deeper

The kilim’s defining feature is a striking ‘X’ stretching from corner to corner. Its field consists of narrow horizontal bands in alternating cream and rich, golden brown. At center is a lozenge in the shape of an eye (göz), a motif traditionally invoked for protection against envy and other misfortunes.

This particular rug was described at length in Hali Magazine, a publication described as the “glue that holds the international rug and textile art market together”. 

 

The extreme rarity of [this rug] is matched by its startling boldness and dynamism. In no other traditional rug weaving culture will one find such a composition and simplicity of colour. The discontinuous stripes that form the X-shaped motif in a single loom width are unusually wavy, creating the visual sensation that the X-shaped motif is floating on water. Furthermore, the centrally placed white-ground lozenge with a small eye-like focal point draws in the viewer, adding to its extraordinary aesthetic impact. Thick stripes at the top and bottom frame and stabilise this remarkable kinetic composition.

–John Wertime in HALI Magazine, London, 2022, Issue 213, pp 129)

Indigenous Art: Siirt Weavings

The rug was handwoven in the first half of the 20th century in Siirt, a dry steppe region in southeastern Anatolia, near Turkey’s borders with Iraq and Syria. Most Siirt kilims sport a plain open field with a modest central medallion. The motif employed in the present rug therefore marks it out as an extremely unusual example of the type.

Siirt kilims are prized for their soft nap, a product of two factors: materials and make. This rug was woven from naturally colored, undyed mohair shorn from the angora goat, a breed native to central Turkey’s Ankara region, hence the name angora. Mohair is lustrous, soft, and warm, and the goats’ hair varies in hue from white to dark brown—a pleasing range reflected in the colors of this piece.

The distinctive surface of Siirt kilims is produced through a unique finishing technique. These rugs are woven flat then softly brushed with a metal comb or teasel, a barbed plant head. The effect lends the textile a pleasantly lofty ‘ripple finish’.

Provenance and Decorative Potential

The rug belonged to the personal collection of the late scholar John D. Wertime, who authored and edited numerous books on rugs and textiles during a prolific career.

Novel design and provenance burnish the rug’s collectability, and its decorative potential is considerable. Warm, natural hues make the rug suitable for a range of common interior decorating styles.

Condition and Use

The rug is an extraordinary and rare antique. It remains in excellent condition, although the brushed surface is uneven. The outer edges of the kilim bow slightly due to natural variations in the tension maintained across the loom during weaving. This is a common feature of village weaving; it has no effect on the quality or durability of the rug.

Due to mohair’s softness, this kilim is recommended for floor use only in low-traffic areas. Use of a rug pad is strongly advised both to anchor the kilim in place and to increase its lifespan by dampening the impact of footfalls on the mohair fibers. Due to their fineness and graphic qualities, Siirt kilims are often used as decorative throws, bedspreads, or as wall-hangings.