column

Selling antique kilims and carpets! Points to consider when purchasing kilims, types and characteristics of kilims

HOME≫Column List≫ Antique kilims and carpets for sale! Points to consider when purchasing kilims, types and characteristics of kilims

Table of contents

1.Points to consider when choosing a Kilim store and how to distinguish quality

1-1.How to choose a store

1-2.How to tell the quality

2.Which one do you prefer? New kilim and old kilim

2-1.What is the difference between new kilim and old kilim?

2-2.The charm of old kilim

3.If you are looking for a carpet or mat, why not choose kilim, a specialty of Turkey?

Kilim is recommended as an interior decoration that will accent your space. If you are going to go to the trouble of purchasing a kilim, you want to choose one that is of good quality. In order to find a good kilim, choosing a store is also important. Therefore, we will tell you about choosing a Kilim shop and how to tell the quality, as well as the characteristics and charms of New Kilim and Old Kilim.

Points to consider when choosing a Kilim store and how to distinguish quality

Kilim is a traditional Turkish textile that is passed down from mother to daughter. In addition to Turkey, it is woven in Iran and Central Asia, and each piece has a completely different look, reflecting the thoughts of the weaver at the time.

Why not incorporate such a kilim into the spatial design of your home, store, office, etc.? When purchasing a kilim, it is important not only to choose the design, but also to choose the store. In order to purchase high-quality kilims, we will introduce the points to consider when choosing a store that sells kilims and how to tell the quality.

お店の選び方

Kilims are attracting attention around the world, especially among European collectors with deep knowledge of antiques, and there are many companies selling kilims in Japan as well. Some businesses sell them in physical stores, while others sell them through mail order sites.

It is best to purchase kilims in a way that is easy for those looking for them, but the management system and quality of kilims that they handle differs depending on the store, so choosing a store is very important.

Designer Jihan sits surrounded by kilims

For example, if you shop online, you can browse many shops in a short time and efficiently search for your favorite kilim. However, there is a possibility that it is a low-quality kilim made with chemical dyes, or a kilim that has been processed to look like an old or antique kilim.

In fact, weaving methods are made in a sloppy manner to make it look old, toxic chemicals are used to make newly woven kilims look old, and low-quality threads and dyes are used to keep prices low. Sometimes it is done.

In order to choose high-quality products, it's good to be able to see and touch the actual product, but that doesn't mean you can't use online shops.

When choosing a store that sells kilims, it is important to check whether the seller knows about the product right before it goes on sale. We recommend purchasing from a store that has good product management, such as what kind of commitment they take in purchasing and stocking, and whether they perform cleaning and repairs as necessary. It is important to go to the store and look at the products, check the store's homepage, or if you are using an online shop, ask questions until you are satisfied with the product you are interested in.It is important to find a kilim that you like without compromising.

At Sultan, our Turkish partner, who has been a famous antique collector for generations, regularly visits Japan and exhibits at THE JAPANTIQUE SHOW (an art and antiques show) held every year at a hotel in Tokyo, as well as private exhibitions across the country. *Upon request, we can also connect with Turkey online to introduce you to the kilim you are looking for.

How to tell quality

◇Raw material

Sheep's wool is commonly used as the thread for weaving kilims. Even though it's called sheep's wool, the quality of the wool varies depending on the type of sheep and the environment in which it was raised, and the texture of the wool also differs depending on the part of the sheep.

For example, the wool of sheep grown in a dry environment is elastic and strong, and the quality of the tummy hair makes it a soft kilim. There is less hair on the belly compared to the hair on the back, so the price tends to be higher accordingly.

In addition to sheep's wool, some are made from materials such as goat or camel hair, cotton, and silk.

The quality also changes depending on how the wool is spun into thread.

◇Dyeing method

The threads used for kilims are dyed using vegetable dyes and chemical dyes. Antique kilims woven in ancient times are basically dyed using natural materials such as grass, wood, and flowers. Chemical dyes have become mainstream since the 19th century, and have the characteristics of being easy to fix and producing a wide variety of colors.

When it comes to chemical dyes, some people may be concerned about the safety of the dyes and concerns about the color fading easily. However, there are some high-quality chemical dyes, and just because they are chemical dyes does not necessarily mean they are bad.

Chemical dyes that can easily dye yarn have become popular, but in recent years, traditional vegetable dyeing has also been making a comeback. The better the quality of the yarn, the more beautiful the color will be when dyed with plants. Kilims made with plant-dyed threads tend to be more expensive because they require more effort and time than chemical dyes.

Which one do you prefer? New kilim and old kilim

キリムには1500年以上もの歴史があり、いつ作られたかによって技術やデザインが異なります。それぞれどのような特徴があるのか知っておくことで、よりイメージにピッタリのキリムを手に入れることができるでしょう。ニューキリムとオールドキリムについて詳しくお伝えします。

What is the difference between new kilim and old kilim?

There are two types of kilims called "new kilims" and "old kilims." Each type has different characteristics, so if you are thinking of purchasing a kilim, you should know the difference between "new kilim" and "old kilim."

Sultan, which handles traditional products including kilim, will introduce "new kilim" and "old kilim".

◇What is New Kilim?

New kilim, as the name suggests, is a new kilim. Although kilim has a long history, new kilim refers to those woven in a relatively short period of 10 to 15 years. They are intended for sale and export, and most of them are machine-woven in factories, so they are relatively easy to obtain.

◇What is Old Kilim?

In contrast to new kilim, the kirim woven by nomads in ancient times is called old kilim.

Originally, there was no classification called "old kilim," but as chemical dyes began to be used, it is said that the classification began around the 1980s to distinguish them from those that only use natural dyes. I am. Old kilim was woven several decades to 100 years ago, so its technology and design are different from new kilim. Many of the textiles were not woven for commercial purposes, but for home use, and were actually used in daily life. It is considered a luxury item because it is rare and not available in large numbers.

Kilim that was woven in an era older than new kilim and relatively younger than old kilim is called ``semi-old,'' and woven over 100 years ago is called ``antique kirim.'' Antique kilims rarely appear on the market, and are often displayed in museums or collected.

Even for the same kilim, availability, price, and design will vary depending on the era in which it was woven, so we recommend deciding beforehand what you want to prioritize when making your selection.

The charm of old kilim

So far, I have explained New Kilim and Old Kilim respectively. From here, I will tell you about the charm of old kilim.

The charm of old kilims is undoubtedly their high weaving techniques.

Nomads made kilims for important milestones in life, such as when their daughters got married or when children were born. It is said that it took several months to complete one kilim, as they were woven with wishes and prayers for the health of the family and safe childbirth.

The carefully woven kilims are extremely durable, and it is said that nomads used them carefully throughout their lives. The nomadic weaving techniques are so sophisticated that even modern technology is said to be unable to reproduce their delicate weaving skills.

Furthermore, the difference in dyes is one of the charms of old kilims.As time went on, chemical dyes were used to dye the threads of kilims, but in ancient times, nomads used vegetable dyes. In fact, the difference between the chemical paint and the vegetable dye is the key to the beauty of the kilim and whether that beauty will last for a long time.

Chemical dyes have the characteristic of losing their color and fading to whitish when exposed to the sun, but with the vegetable dyeing used by nomads, the color gradually fades like a gradation. Old kilim dyed with plants will change beautifully the more you use it.

Most things lose their value over time, but old kilims, on the other hand, develop a textured color shading over time, and are said to be more beautiful and have higher value than new ones. I am.

If you're interested in old kilims, which get better the more you use them, be sure to check them out.

If you are looking for a carpet or mat, why not choose a traditional Turkish kilim?

Why not choose kilim for your home, as well as for creating spaces such as stores and offices?

We introduced the key points for choosing a store and quality when selecting a high-quality kilim, as well as the characteristics of new and old kilims.

At Sultan, we work with a Turkish designer who is also an antique kilim and carpet collector, and a Sri Lankan art director who has a deep love for Japanese culture and spirit, to propose comfortable fabrics to brighten up your everyday life.

If there is a kilim or rug you are looking for, please let us know the design, size, material, etc. you are looking for. We also accept custom-made items, and we would be happy to talk with you and support you in creating your space.

Click here for kilims and carpets