Denizli wolf's mouth kilim rug - medium

Striking geometric forms in vivid colours adorn this spectacular vintage kilim rug. Woven by hand in Denizli, Turkey, the one-of-a-kind rug is the perfect way to introduce the visual warmth and captivating intricacy of this ancient handcraft into your home.

A carrier of visual narrative and collective memory, each rug features symbolic emblems, their powerful meanings woven into the fabric of the piece. The evil eye, or nazarlik, is a protective emblem that functions as a shield against the ancient curse of a malevolent glare. Bold zigzag forms represent the wolf’s mouth, or kurt ağzi, to guard against danger and harmful forces.

Featuring unique variations in weave, geometric alignment, dye tones and regional design, each piece carries the heritage of the place where it was made, a fingerprint of the weaver. This rug reflects the decorative traditions of Denizli, in the southwest of Turkey, a historic hub for flatwoven textiles, renowned for tribal motifs and unique local weaving sub-traditions.

Kilim weaving was traditionally practised by women using techniques passed from mother to daughter, working without drawing boards or fixed templates, making each piece a unique expression of the maker’s artistry. This rug is made using the slitweave method, a warp-sharing technique that enables the creation of reversible kilims with complex designs. The looping and sharing of strands in the weaving process results in small slits appearing at the borders of the designs, giving the process its name.

Selected by the V&A, each piece has been sourced and professionally cleaned by a specialist partner.