Borrowed from Turkish, the term kilim is the most commonly used to label such floorcoverings. Other names may be used, including the following:

Palas (Caucasus)
Gelim (Iran)
Kylym (Ukraine)
Bsath (Syria and Lebanon)

Pileless and flatwoven floorcoverings are not unique to parts of Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia – they can be find all over the world such as India, where they are known as dhurries, and North America, where they are crafted by the Navajo in the United States. Materials and technique may be coarse and monotone, or extremely sophisticated with complex geometric designs unique to a single tribe.

However, when speaking about kilims, the geographic area is limited to the Balkans, Central Asia, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Caucasus, as well as China and Ukraine.

Traditionally, kilims were not only used to cover floors, benches and beds; they were also used as a sturdy material to wrap or pack things, as cushions, and as a symbol of wealth. They were, and still are, a manifestation of an individual tribe’s cultural and aesthetic tastes – a tangible representation of their identity.

The photo shows an example of a Navajo rug.

They are an expressive art form that is both functional and beautiful. For these reasons, kilims have become quite popular in the contemporary North American market, despite being less durable then their plushy counterparts. (Unfortunately, commercially manufactured kilims lack these qualities, since they tend to be designed following current popular tastes.)

Kilims come in a range of sizes. They can be small or large. Typical sizes range from 4’7″ x 11′ to 5’7″ x 16′. Smaller sizes, generally used as prayer rugs, can be as small as 1’4″ x 2’6″.

If you are interested in flatwoven and pileless floorcoverings, please contact us to explore our beautiful selection of handmade kilims.

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Afghan carpets and rugs are produced in Afghanistan, a country with a population of over 33 million. Some rugs may still be considered Afghan even if woven in the neighbouring countries of Pakistan or Iran, since weavers native to the country may have been displaced and continue to produce rugs using traditional Afghan techniques.

Afghan Choobi Rugs
Choobi or Chobi rugs hail from a specific region in Afghanistan, an area dominated by Turkoman (Turcoman) tribes. It is also believed that this region extends into Pakistan, therefore it is not uncommon for sellers to label rugs “Pakistani-Chobi” as well.

Chobi or Choobi is a  Modern Persian (also known as Farsi) word that is used when describing something as having “colour like wood”. Knowing the meaning, it comes to no surprise, then, that most Choobi rugs are in a light brown, sometimes bordering on dark beige. Their subdued colours are achieved by dyes derived from natural sources, specifically vegetable and mineral based. You will, however, find other colours, such as darker reds and greens.

Handwoven, these Afghan rugs are typically made with a cotton base and wool pile. You can expect KPSI count to range from 120 to 250, although there may be some below or above. Although they may not be as fine as other carpets manufactured in the area, they do boast remarkable durability and resilience, maintaining their beauty and functionality for a long time.  They make a great floor covering for areas that receive heavy traffic.

Pictured is a new 9.7′ x 8.2′ Afghan-Choobi rug with wool pile and cotton base. (code: 352n903)

Related posts:

1. Traditional Tabriz Persian Carpets
2. KPSI