Vintage Maimana Kilim Area Rug, Handwoven Wool, 8x12, Rose & Slate

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Description

A large vintage handwoven kilim from Maimana in northern Afghanistan, in a softened palette of rose, slate blue, chocolate and … Read more A large vintage handwoven kilim from Maimana in northern Afghanistan, in a softened palette of rose, slate blue, chocolate and ivory. Maimana, in Faryab province, is the flatweave heart of the country, and this is an older dyed piece rather than one of the undyed natural weaves the region makes today.

The weave is flat and reversible, hand-spun wool with no pile. The colour has the quiet, dusty quality that only comes with age: the reverse of the rug still carries the warm original tone, while the face has softened over years of light. Small flecks of the stronger original red survive in sheltered spots across the field, and the gentle shifts of tone are abrash, the natural variation between batches of hand-spun yarn.

A column of large concentric diamonds runs the length of the field, each one stepped in ivory, brown and slate and filled with hooked scroll motifs. The field is framed by a wide chocolate border carrying rows of small rosettes in rose and blue, a running salmon crenellation, and stepped block bands at each end, closing in a dark plain-weave header with the original fringe.

The kilim is flat woven with no pile, so there is no pile wear. Selvedges and end finishes are intact and the fringe is original and complete. [CHECK AND DESCRIBE: any spots, thin areas, stains or repairs, with location and size — including the small dark mark visible near the lower end.]

Measuring 92 by 146 inches, this is a true room-size rug: it will carry a full living room seating group with all furniture legs on the rug, or a dining table for eight to ten. The rose and slate palette reads soft rather than bright, and sits well in warm minimalist, bohemian and organic modern interiors. See less