Sarkoy kilim from western Turkey
Object No. 2004/136/5
This subtly-toned Sarkoy kilim is from the Balkan region of Thrace in Western Turkey, an area which has produced pile carpets and many kinds of flatweaves for centuries. The name 'Sarkoy', when applied to kilims, refers to a Serbian town on the Bulgarian border (now called Pirot) which has a documented tradition of kilim weaving. The kilim is tapestry woven, a weft-face weaving technique in which the dyed wefts are discontinuous, ie they do not extend from selvedge to selvedge but are inserted in blocks of colour to form the design. In this kilim, the design is strongly diagonal which precludes the formation of slits at colour junctions. The history of the Balkans is one of a meeting of cultures. Occupation by the Ottoman Turks lasted, in some areas, for over 500 years and when they eventually withdrew, leaving much of their culture behind. Thrace covers an area which includes Bulgaria and parts of European Turkey and is a geographic demarcation rather than a political one. Pamela Leuzinger, Research Assistant Design & Society, 2011 Christina Sumner, Principal Curator Design & Society, 2011
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Summary
Object Statement
Sarkoy kilim, wool, tapestry weave, Thrace, Western Turkey, 1880-1910
Physical Description
A rectangular flatweave rug (kilim), tapestry woven with wool on woollen warps. The kilim has a strong geometric pattern predominantly made up of triangles, with three large diamonds in the field delineated through the use of colour. At either end of the field is a deep zig-zag patterned band, while triangles set point to point form the four borders. The ends of the kilim are gently scalloped and the fringe is the knotted wool warp. The palette, made up of light blue, dark blue, mustard and yellow, is soft and subdued.
DIMENSIONS
Width
1080 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Kilims are flatweave rugs which can be made using several different weaving techniques. This Sarkoy kilim is tapestry woven, in which the dyed wefts are discontinuous, ie they do not extend from selvedge to selvedge but are inserted in blocks of colour to form the design. The wefts meet and separate at colour junctions and, in Sarkoy kilims like this one, slits between the colours are avoided by using a substantial number of diagonal lines. The name 'Sarkoy', when applied to kilims, refers to a Serbian town on the Bulgarian border (now called Pirot) which has a documented tradition of kilim weaving. Wool is used for both warp and weft. Kilims use less material to make than pile rugs and are usually quicker to produce and less costly. They were generally made as utilitarian floor coverings, bag, trappings and draperies.
HISTORY
Notes
The kilim comes from the private collection of the donor, Dr George Soutter and was given to the Museum as part of a collection of eight rugs and nomadic trappings representing the main carpet-producing regions - ie from Western Turkey through Iran into Central Asia. Dr Soutter's gift emphasises the significance of the Museum's rug collection and was designed to encourage its growth, as well as to acknowledge the achievements of the Oriental Rug Society of NSW, an affiliated society of the Museum. The collection documents many of the purposes for which rugs and trappings are made, including floor coverings and tent partitions.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Dr George Soutter, 2004
Acquisition Date
8 October 2004
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