Antique Bessarabian Kilim, Ukraine

GBP 6,200.00

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Object Description

An early 20th century Bessarabian Kilim woven on a pale soft yellow background, gentle pink and grey toned flowers on this watery background design.  Such a delicate and attractive decorative Kilim for 1920, condition wise it is perfect with no damage.  These antique kilims are wonderful to place in rooms all over the home, we supply brilliant underlay with all our rugs which helps keep kilims secure on all types of floors.

Bessarabian rugs and carpets are the commonly given name for rugs in pile and tapestry technique originating in Russian provinces as well as Ukraine and Moldova during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Some scholars will classify flat-woven carpets as Bessarabian, while referring to knotted-pile carpets as Ukrainian. They are predominantly from an area corresponding to modern Bulgaria and Romania. Produced under late Ottoman rule, they stand right on the cusp of European and Oriental carpet weaving.

Carpets and kilims were woven with sheep wool on the vertical or horizontal looms; sometimes hemp or flax was used for the base. Woolen yarn was dyed with natural dyes from local plants and insects. A group of kilims with floral patterns were produced from central regions of Ukraine (Poltava, Kyiv, Chernihiv) Ornament consists of images of flowers, more or less stylized or branches with flowers arranged rhythmically or related to the overall pattern.

While most Persian carpets can be classified to a specific region corresponding to their weave, this is not the case with Bessarabian carpets and rugs. With these rugs, the weave only gives clues about the market it was created for (rural or urban); therefore, a normal classification is disregarded and the broader term, “Bessarabian”, is applied.

Late 19th century pieces such as this floral design had softer colours than the Kilims woven in the early part of the twentieth century. The dancing flowers in the border design and abstract floral designs in the main field are beautifully subtle.  Often similar in design to that of Caucasian designs such as Karabagh.  We love how the background of these Kilims have almost a wave like effect, look closely at the image to see this clever weaving technique in the charcoal black.  There is also some great dyes and variety of yellows and subtle pale blues and green.  An exceptional example and with our underlay this would sit happily on a wood floor, tiles or fitted carpet.

Please contact us to request a home visit, we love to travel and help customers find the perfect rug for their home.  It is a free, no obligation service we have offered for over 25 years of business.

Object Condition

Excellent original condition all over.

Object Details

Dealer Opening Times

By appointment only.

Dealer Contact

Telephone
+44 (0)1252 851215
Web
Email

Dealer Location

The Old Parsonage
Church Street
Crondall
Surrey
GU10 5QQ

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