Ca. 1800, 194 x 135 cm, West Anatolia, Kütahya region

Collection VOK: Anatolia 49

Somewhat reduced at the bottom, this yellow-ground kilim is at the same time one of the most spectacular and one of the rarest pieces in the Vok Collection. Cootner has published the only immediately comparable example, the so-called “vulture” kilim from the McCoy Jones Collection in the San Francisco Museum. Three large tree-like forms, alternately light red and blue, are aligned vertically along the central axis of the otherwise plain field. Their sides are decorated with long and slim parmakli outlines (parmakli being the Turkish word for "finger"), creating a feathered appearance. This justifies the assumption that the designs may be abstract representations of birds. Birds played an important part in early nature cults. The sides of the Vok kilim are decorated with light red triangles all around, a serrated barrier to protect against threats and evil outside influences. In the San Francisco kilim the points are brown, creating a somewhat more austere appearance. According to Hirsch, the Vok kilim was made in one of the villages situated between Kütahya and Tavsanli located further to the north-west. – Reduced at the bottom, signs of age and wear, several rewoven areas, stains. Backed with canvas.

COOTNER, CATHRYN & MUSE, GARRY, Anatolian Kilims. The Caroline & H. McCoy Jones Collection. (Exhibition catalogue) San Francisco - London 1990, pl. 58

VOK, IGNAZIO, Vok Collection. Anatolia. Kilims and other Flatweaves from Anatolia. (Text by Udo Hirsch) Munich 1997, no. 49