Vintage Turkish Kilim Hemp Rug With Stripes by Rug & Kilim, 1950-1959

Details

Description

Handwoven from recycled vintage hemp and originating from Turkey circa 1950-1959, this nearly 10x13 vintage kilim joins Rug & Kilim’s … Read more Handwoven from recycled vintage hemp and originating from Turkey circa 1950-1959, this nearly 10x13 vintage kilim joins Rug & Kilim’s Kilim & Flat Weave collection. It features a bold, minimalist striped layout, contrasting stark charcoal-black horizontal bands against a luminous ivory field, creating a beautiful eco-friendly design using recycled hemp yarn sourced from mid-century textiles. The natural flatweave offers an organic, minimalist look made with hemp that has high tensile strength and durability.

On the Design:

This oversized flatweave embraces a striking, utilitarian minimalism deeply embedded in Anatolia's historic cultivation of hemp or *kenevir*. Historically prized by agrarian and nomadic communities for its immense tensile strength and resistance to weathering, hemp was the premier material for heavy-duty, functional textiles like grain sacks, tent covers, and ground mats. Because the coarse bast fibers favored structural integrity over intricate ornamentation, historic hemp flatweaves often stripped away dense, sprawling medallions in favor of elemental geometry. In this mid-century exemplar, the framework relies entirely on the architectural power of stark horizontal stripe design. A rhythmic progression of deep charcoal-black bands cuts across a luminous, un-dyed ivory ground, creating a high-contrast visual cadence. This elemental use of line and negative space distills the utilitarian nomadic aesthetic into pure kinetic energy, offering a highly structured yet organic foundation.

Keen eyes may note that this monumental kilim promises a profound commitment to material history and sustainable artisanal craftsmanship. The rug is meticulously handwoven using recycled hemp yarn salvaged from mid-century textiles. By carefully unraveling these ancestral flatweaves and reworking the vintage fibers upon a new, grand-scale loom, master weavers preserve the original, time-softened patina and rugged texture of the mid-century material. This intuitive process of reclamation honors the legacy of the original weavers, ensuring that the soulful character and rich history of the vintage hemp are not lost, but rather reborn into a uniquely character-rich, heavy-handled flatweave rug. The accompanying book, The Antwerp Six by Bruloot, Geert; Cockx, Romy; Debo, Kaat., is part of Volumes by Rug & Kilim. The book (SKU - B385) can be acquired independently through our bookstore.

Condition:

This vintage Turkish kilim enjoys good condition for its age and origin. See less