SOUTH EAST ANATOLIA, MID 19TH CENTURY

Reyhanli became a thriving centre for the production of kilims during the second half of the 19th century. The exceptional quality of the present kilim is striking. The fine weave is indicative of the earlier examples woven in the middle of the 19th century (Y. Petsopoulos, Kilims, London, 1979, pp.154-168, figs. 206 and 207). The compact weave enables greater precision and clarity in design with the addition of multiple minor motifs. The palette of cherry-red, pink, brown, light blue and various greens is highly characteristic and a reliable identifying feature. Ebellinde motifs are aligned in the sky-blue ground border, several of them accentuated by outlines woven in thread of a different colour. As with many examples from this region, the present kilim is woven in two panels which often remained unjoined as they were used as curtains and portiéres when sold at the market for use in the surrounding town houses.