11'8" x 12'8" (356cm x 386cm) Southeast Europe, the Balkan Peninsula: Late 19th Century Flat-weave (kilim), slit-tapestry technique: wool
$ on request Sold
A finely woven antique kilim from the border region between present day Serbia and Bulgaria, centered around the town of Pirot (called Sharkoy by Turks.) Once part of the Ottoman Empire, this area has a centuries-old tradition of producing very finely woven large kilims that were favored as summer carpets in the homes of wealthy local patrons as well as the stately mansions of Istanbul.
A highly stylized tree-of-life dominates the deep navy field, surrounded by light blue and red borders featuring enigmatic figures that look like part flower, part bird. A great example of this increasingly hard to find type with brilliant natural dyes.
