Difference between Anatolian Kilims and Carpets : eBay Guides

Kilim

A kilim is a pileless, hand-woven, flatwave, traditional rug. Different than the carpet, kilim is formed with flatweaving with two groups of woolen ropes; one group is vertically , and the other group is horizontally placed. The horizontal group of ropes (atki) are passed through the vertical group of ropes (cozgu). When this group of rope reaches to the end, it turns back on the same path. With this way of passing the group of rope on the same path over and over, motifs are formed with different group of ropes with different colors.

The kilim flatwave is the basic flatwave that it has a different function than the carpet weaving. Kilim is woven and used by nomadic Turkomans so it has a basic style. It is lighter than carpet and has limited materials when compared to carpet. However, they are still woven with ancient methods and they are precious since they are the only cultural and historical records of nomadic cultures.

Kilim is the basic weaving technique. Although jijim, zili and soumak are classified as kilim, they have different weaving techniques.

Carpet

There are two well-known methods of carpet weaving:

Double knot/Turkish  knot/Gordes knot: It is the technique that has been used  by Turkish people since the ancient times. Thus, it has been identified wth Turkish carpet weaving. It provides strenght and durability thanks to its firmer weave.

Turkish

Single knot/Persian knot/Sine knot: This technique does not provides strong weaving but enables detailed motifs. Therefore, there are lots of detailed plant and animal figures in Persian carpets.

Persian

Hekim knot/Isparta knot: It is similar to single knot thus, provides weaving detailed motifs in a easier and faster way. The difference of Isparta knot from the Persian knot is that the horizantal group of ropes is not passed through the end of the vertical ropes but turned back according to the motifs.

Knot on vertical group of ropes/ Oedinburg knot:  It was used in European, especially the Spanish carpets. This technique is not used today.

All handwoven carpets and kilims have unique designs and motifs according to the imagination and creativeness of the weaver. Some motifs and designs became well-known and identified with the region where they are woven or tribe by whom they are woven. So, it possible to predict the history of a carpet or kilim.