Vintage Turkish Kilim: Handwoven Wool Village Scene Tapestry

This charming small kilim was woven by an Anatolian village weaver and depicts a naïve “village house” tableau—rows of windows, stepped roofs and a tiny figure standing proudly at the edge. Soft undyed sheep greys, stone, cream and sand are warmed with a whisper of peach. The flatweave handle, tidy selvedges and braided tassels show careful handwork, making it equally beautiful as a floor accent or hung as a tapestry.

Weaving tradition & construction.
This piece is a true kilim (flatweave)—a tapestry-woven, weft-faced structure with clear color joins and subtle slit-weave changes between motifs (visible in the close-ups). There is no knotted pile, only tightly beaten wefts over relatively stout wool warps. Side edges are overcast with wool and the ends finish in a short plain-weave band and grouped tassels—hallmarks of traditional Anatolian / Central Turkish village weaving, c. 1970s–1980s.

Knot structure.
Not applicable—flatweave/tapestry (no Ghiordes/Senneh knots). Density measured from the macro photos is approx. 14–16 weft rows per inch (5.5–6 rows/cm); warp spacing approx. 10–12 ends per inch.

Origin & palette.
The muted greys (likely natural, undyed wool), with oatmeal, charcoal and small touches of peach/sand and blue-grey, match mid-late 20th-century Anatolian pictorial kilims made for domestic use and display.

Age indicators.
Even, gentle abrasion to high ridges of the wefts, slight abrash (shade variation) across the field, and relaxed fringes suggest 40–50 years of age. Colors remain stable with no bleeding.

Motifs & cultural context.
The house/rooftop composition (often called evli or “with houses” in Turkish kilims) celebrates home, prosperity, and protection of the hearth. Repeating window squares along the base act like a minor guard “border,” while the solitary figure at the left gives the work a storybook, folk-art spirit. Striped end panels frame the scene like a picture mount—perfect for use as a wall hanging.

Materials.

Wool weft on wool warp, hand-spun character with occasional thickness variation.

Dyes are a mix of natural undyed tones and stable mid-century synthetic/detail vegetable shades (peach, slate).

Handle & pile.
As a flatweave it’s low-profile (≈3–4 mm) and flexible yet sturdy—excellent under doors or for layering.

Condition (honest assessment).
Very good vintage condition: even wear appropriate to age, light abrash, minor waviness at one end, fringes a touch irregular with a few short tassels—no holes, repairs, or stains seen in the photos.

Features:

Type: Hand-woven kilim (flatweave tapestry)

Origin: Central Anatolia, Turkey

Age: ca. 1970s–1980s

Size: 0.63 × 1.03 m (approx. 2'1" × 3'4"); add ~2–3 cm (≈1") fringe each end

Weave density: ~14–16 weft rows/inch; warp spacing ~10–12 ends/inch (flatweave, not knotted)

Materials: 100% wool (warp & weft)

Pile/height: flat, ~3–4 mm

Colors: undyed greys & cream, stone, taupe, charcoal, soft peach/sand

Use: floor accent, wall hanging, entry, kitchen, studio, nursery

Pictorial village scene with tiny figure—rare and highly decorative.

Neutral, stone-washed palette that plays well with Scandinavian, rustic, Japandi, coastal and cottage interiors.

Lightweight & reversible flatweave—easy to hang or layer.

Authentic handwork: visible weft changes, tidy selvedges, hand-braided tassels.

Care & styling

Use a rug pad to keep it flat and protect the weave.

Vacuum with suction only (no beater bar). For wall display, attach with a sleeve or Velcro strip sewn to a cotton header—don’t pin through the weave.

Spot clean with cool water and a drop of wool-safe soap, blot only. Avoid soaking fringes.

Rotate seasonally for even wear; for a full clean, use a professional hand-wash service experienced with flatweaves.


Bring home a little story of village life—woven in wool and meant to be enjoyed every day. Questions about hanging or layering? I’m happy to help!