Original kilim rugs, how to spot one and what they really cost
Looking for an original kilim rug and finding prices online that range from a few tens of euros to over 800 euros for rugs that look almost the same in photos? The difference lies in the weaving, the wool, the size and whether the piece is one of a kind or made in a series. In this guide you will learn how to recognise a handwoven kilim with a few simple checks, what drives the price and which price bands to expect, with real examples from the CarpetLiving range.
What is an original kilim?
A kilim is a flatweave rug, woven by hand on a loom with no pile. Coloured weft threads pass over and under the warp threads and, beaten down tightly, form the pattern. That is why a kilim is thin, light and often usable on both sides.
"Original" does not necessarily mean antique: it means woven by hand using this technique, with natural materials. For the origins of kilims and the differences between Afghan and Turkish pieces, read our complete kilim guide. Afghan types such as Maimana, Panjshir and Kaudani are covered in the article on the Afghan Kaudani kilim.
How to recognise a handwoven kilim, 6 checks
- The back matches the front: turn over a corner. On a handwoven kilim the pattern is repeated almost identically on the back. A printed rug has a white or single colour back, and many machine made imitations have a back that looks clearly different.
- Small irregularities: slightly wavy edges, one diamond a little wider than the next, a stripe that is not perfectly straight. In hand weaving these are normal, not flaws.
- Slits between colours: where two blocks of colour meet vertically, many kilims show small openings. This is slit weave: the threads of two neighbouring colours each turn back around their own warp without interlocking.
- Fringes that grow out of the rug: the fringes are the ends of the warp threads, knotted or braided. If they are a strip sewn under the edge, the rug is almost always factory made.
- Wool with character: hand spun wool varies slightly in thickness and feels dry, not slippery like polypropylene.
- Abrash, the shifts in tone: with artisan dyeing the same colour changes slightly in intensity in bands, because batches of wool are dyed at different times. A perfectly even colour does not rule out handwork, but abrash is a point in its favour.
Handwoven, machine woven or printed kilim
Many "kilim style" rugs copy the patterns but not the technique. Here is how to tell them apart.
| Feature | Handwoven | Machine woven | Printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back | Almost the same as the front | Often different, very regular | White or a single colour |
| Fringes | Ends of the warp | Sewn on or absent | Sewn on or absent |
| Pattern | Slight asymmetries | Perfect, repeated geometry | Perfect, may fade with use |
| Materials | Wool, sometimes a cotton warp | Often synthetic or blended fibres | Polyester or cotton |
| Lifespan | Many years with care | Variable | Shorter |
What determines the price of an original kilim rug?
- Origin and tradition: a kilim from a tribal or village tradition, such as Afghan pieces, is valued differently from one woven in a workshop to a modern design.
- Size: the work grows with the surface. A 290x210 cm kilim is about 6 square metres of hand beaten weft, a 120x60 cm piece less than one.
- Wool quality: hand spun, well washed wool costs more than industrial yarn, but it ages better and develops a soft patina.
- Weave density: more weft passes per centimetre mean sharper patterns, a denser rug and more hours at the loom.
- Age and condition: a vintage or antique kilim is worth its history only if its condition holds up.
- One of a kind or series: a unique piece has a pattern that is never repeated. A series kilim uses the same design in several sizes and colours; it is still handmade but more affordable.
How much does an original kilim cost? Price bands
Here is how prices are spread across the CarpetLiving range, with real models as a reference. Each size has its own price; unique pieces come in one size only.
| Price band | What to expect | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| From about 27 to 70 euros | Wool kilims handwoven in series, small or medium sizes, repeatable geometric patterns. | Kilim Jaipur Neyriz, striped Kilim Hippie, Kilim Sivas, Kilim Kaban |
| From about 120 to 450 euros | Larger sizes and design collections in wool or wool and cotton, the first handmade unique pieces. | Kilim Sivas des 9, Kilim Tonum Green, Kilim Walter, Kilim Afghan Black 201x153 cm, one of a kind modern kilim 230x183 cm |
| From about 580 to over 800 euros | Large one of a kind Afghan kilims, with patterns and colours that cannot be repeated. | Kilim Kaudani Afghan 290x210 cm and 342x247 cm |
In practice: under 70 euros you already get a genuine handmade wool kilim; above 500 euros you pay for a large size and a unique piece.
Questions to ask before buying a kilim
- Is it handwoven or machine woven? Ask for, or look for, a photo of the back and the fringes.
- What are the warp and weft made of? Wool, cotton or jute should be stated on the product page.
- Is it one of a kind or a series model? If it is unique, the photos should show the actual piece for sale.
- What is the real size? With handmade rugs a few centimetres of difference from the stated size is normal.
- How do I clean it? A wool kilim should be vacuumed without a rotating brush and taken to a specialist cleaner for serious stains. All the details are in our guide on how to clean oriental rugs.
- Can I return it? At CarpetLiving you have 14 days from delivery to withdraw from your purchase.
Original kilim rugs at CarpetLiving
In the kilim rugs collection you will find both handmade series models and one of a kind Afghan pieces. Scroll through the selection, from series kilims to one of a kind Afghan pieces:
Scroll to see the whole selection. The price shown is for the smallest size.
If you want to look beyond flatweaves, browse our oriental carpets. Shipping is free within Italy on orders over 99 euros and within the EU and Switzerland on orders over 159 euros, and every rug comes with a 2 year legal guarantee of conformity.
Original kilim, key points
- An original kilim is a handwoven flatweave whose pattern is formed by the weft: it does not have to be antique.
- The most reliable signs are a back that matches the front, fringes formed by the warp, small irregularities, slits between colours and abrash.
- At CarpetLiving prices start from about 27 euros for a handmade series kilim and go over 800 euros for a large Afghan Kaudani.
- Before buying, check the materials, the real size, photos of the back and the return conditions.
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