A kilim rug is a tapestry-woven rug known for its brilliantly colored, geometric patterns. This type of rug is traditionally made in parts of the Middle East. It can be purely decorative or even function as a prayer rug.

What makes a rug a Kilim?

Kilim rugs are identified by their flat weaving technique using two sets of wool ropes. The rugs also have no pile because of this hand-woven technique. You’ll find a variety of Kilim rugs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

What is a Turkish kilim rug?

A Turkish kilim rug is a pileless, tapestry-woven rug that can be used for decorative purposes or as a prayer rug. They are produced by interweaving the warp and weft strands of the weave and typically feature geometrically ornate designs. Shop a collection of vintage and designer Turkish kilim rugs from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.

What is the difference between a rug and a kilim?

The difference between a rug and a kilim is the specificity of the terms. A rug is any soft floor covering. Artisans produce rugs using a wide range of techniques, and rugs may have a flat surface or a raised pile. A kilim is a handmade rug that features a flat weave and is usually made of natural fibers such as wool, silk and cotton. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of rugs.

What is the difference between kilim and Dhurrie rugs?

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How can you tell if a kilim rug is real?

To tell if a kilim rug is real, look for labeling that indicates the fibers. True kilim rugs tend to be crafted by hand out of natural fibers such as wool, silk and cotton. Rugs that contain synthetic fibers like polyester or polyethylene or that have "machine-made" or similar verbiage on their labels are likely not kilims. Next, consider the pattern. The weaving technique used to make kilim rugs usually results in linear geometric patterns. Curving forms or irregular or scattered patterns are unlikely to appear on authentic pieces. If you're still not sure about the authenticity of your floor covering, ask a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer for a professional opinion. Shop a selection of kilim rugs on 1stDibs.

African Kilim Rug

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Black And White Moroccan Rug

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Tone On Tone Geometric Rug

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Recent Sales

Vintage Kilim Rug, 1960s

Unavailable

W 63 in L 147.64 in

Vintage Kilim Rug, 1960s

Located in Antwerpen, BE

A large multicolored kilim rug in wool and cotton.

Materials

Wool

Moroccan Kilim Rug Flatweave Contemporary Carpet Boucherouite Rug

Unavailable

Unavailable

W 57 in L 77 in

June and Blue Vintage Moroccan Hanbel Kilim

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Vintage Boujaad Hanbel, 25 years old. Pile: Low Color: Cream, Brown, Red, Beige Wear Notes: 0 Wear Guide: Vintage and antique rugs are by nature, pre-loved and may sho...

Category

1990s Moroccan Kilim Moroccan and North African Rugs

Wool, Cotton

Ait M'Hamed Partially Knotted Kilim

Unavailable

W 33.86 in L 74.81 in

Ait M'Hamed Partially Knotted Kilim

Located in Graz, Styria

The background of this exciting textile is a soft kilim with many brown shades. Like a relief red, green, white and black knots are partially incorporated and built a lively and colo...

Materials

Wool, Cotton

Vintage Azilal Flat-Weave Moroccan Kilim - Hot Pink, Red, Blue, Green

Unavailable

W 63 in L 133 in

Vintage Azilal Flat-Weave Moroccan Kilim - Hot Pink, Red, Blue, Green

By Berber Tribes of Morocco

Located in Palm Springs, CA

Azilal rugs are known for their artistic, abstract and avant-garde style of weaving. This piece is a flat weave kilim from the Azilal region. Kilim is derived from Turkish origins an...

Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Tribal Moroccan and North African Rugs

Materials

Cotton, Wool

Sold

W 77.17 in L 108.27 in

Vintage North African Kilim Rug Rare Color

Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE

One of a Kind North african vintage Kilim rug. This lavish worked piece is not a Kilim as usually known.

Category

Vintage 1970s Moroccan Tribal Moroccan and North African Rugs

Vintage Moroccan Embroided Berber Kilim Rug

Sold

W 78.75 in L 115.36 in

Vintage Moroccan Embroided Berber Kilim Rug

Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE

Beautiful vintage North African Kilim rug, hand woven with hand spun wool.

Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Tribal Moroccan and North African Rugs

Materials

Wood

Sold

W 72 in L 105 in

Mehraban Vintage Style African Tribal Flat Weave Kilim

By Mehraban Rugs

Located in WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA

Rug Number 21607 Size 6' 0" X 8' 9" Design Kilim Collection Flat Weaves Material Cotton Texture Flat Weave Origin Africa Age New

Category

Early 2000s North African Moroccan and North African Rugs

Materials

Cotton

Vintage North African Berber Kilim Rug

Sold

W 61.03 in L 92.92 in

Vintage North African Berber Kilim Rug

Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE

Beautiful vintage handwoven tribal Kilim rug, embroidered design. This rug was used as wall decoration and is perfect condition.

Category

Vintage 1970s Algerian Tribal Moroccan and North African Rugs

$3,054Sale Price|40% Off

$12,319Sale Price|20% Off

W 147 in L 164 in

New Modern Blue Berber Beni Mrirt Moroccan Rug with Expressionist Style

By Berber Tribes of Morocco

Located in Dallas, TX

21168 Rare Modern Blue Beni Mrirt Moroccan Rug, 12'03 x 13'08. An exquisite masterpiece of modern Moroccan weaving, this hand-knotted wool Beni Mrirt rug is a portal to a dreamscape—...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Moroccan Post-Modern Moroccan and North Af...

Materials

Wool

New Contemporary Berber Moroccan Rug with Tribal Style

$7,199Sale Price|20% Off

$11,000

W 70 in L 115 in

Vintage Hand-Knotted Wool Moroccan Rug with Red Tribal Design

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This radiant Moroccan rug from the mid-20th century features stacked tribal diamond motifs that run parallel on a modest red field. This 5’10” x 9’7” hand-knotted wool vintage rug ha...

Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Tribal Moroccan and North African Rugs

Materials

Wool

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Carlo Scarpa “Cornaro” Three-seater Sofa for Gavina, Ivory Linen, 1973

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Isamu Noguchi Akari Table Lamp Ya2 1990s Production

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African Kilim Rug For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are many versions of the ideal African kilim rug for your home. Each African kilim rug for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using fabric, wool and cotton. If you’re shopping for an African kilim rug, we have 359 options in-stock, while there are 93 modern editions to choose from as well. Your living room may not be complete without an African kilim rug — find older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. When you’re browsing for the right African kilim rug, those designed in Modern, Mid-Century Modern and Scandinavian Modern styles are of considerable interest. Berber Tribes of Morocco, Rug & Kilim and Mehraban Rugs each produced at least one beautiful African kilim rug that is worth considering.

How Much is an African Kilim Rug?

Prices for an African kilim rug can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $75 and can go as high as $117,600, while the average can fetch as much as $2,779.

Finding the Right Moroccan-rugs for You

Antique and vintage Moroccan rugs serve as an exceptional piece of decor. Whether it’s to tie your bedroom together or to add a dazzling array of colors and graphically provocative shapes and other elements to your living room wall, there’s increased demand for all types of Moroccan tribal rugs, especially as bohemian, global and eco styles are on the rise and because tapestries and wall hangings are definitely cool again.

Travelers and interior design lovers from all over the world are big fans of the complex geometric patterns and bold color palettes that we typically associate with rustic, natural Moroccan and North African rugs.

In the West, the current infatuation with handwoven vintage Moroccan tribal rugs stretches to the mid-20th century. Then, designers such as Alvar Aalto, Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier offset austere interiors with vibrant and alluring mid-century modern Moroccan rugs. (Le Corbusier integrated these rugs in his designs for Villa La Roche in Paris, while Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Pennsylvania is also home to distinctive Moroccan floor coverings.)

Moroccan rugs date back to the Paleolithic era, when Berber tribes, which comprised many different members of an ethnic group native to North Africa, would weave these textiles with intricate images and symbols. Traditionally, Moroccan tribal weavings were made exclusively by women and solely for personal use. Dense pile rugs served not only as floor coverings but as mattresses, seating and even blankets in the winter months.

The Moroccan rug hasn’t survived this long merely because of its usefulness. These stunning works take at least two to three weeks to weave, and each woman weaves the story of her life into the design. They are filled with symbolism and vary greatly depending on the locale where they were woven. In this way, part of the profound beauty of traditional Moroccan rugs lies in their historical and cultural significance.

One of the most widely loved styles of Moroccan rugs comes from the Beni Ourain tribes, a network of nearly two dozen individual tribes in the mountainous Middle Atlas region.

Vintage Beni Ourain rugs are woven from undyed, natural wool. The textures, imperfections and asymmetrical lines, which can’t be reproduced with mass production methods, as well as the neutral tones and understated geometry have endeared interior designers to these works for ages. In comparison to the spare Beni Ourain rugs, a more heavily decorated, widely colorful option can be found in Azilal Moroccan rugs, which contrast wonderfully with the rich, dark wood tones and clean lines that characterize mid-century modern furniture.

The collection of antique and vintage rugs and carpets on 1stDibs features a wide range of extraordinary Moroccan and North African rugs including Beni Ourain rugs, Azilal rugs, kilims and more.

Questions About African Kilim Rug

What is a kilim rug?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
A kilim rug is a tapestry-woven rug known for its brilliantly colored, geometric patterns. This type of rug is traditionally made in parts of the Middle East. It can be purely decorative or even function as a prayer rug.
What makes a rug a Kilim?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
Kilim rugs are identified by their flat weaving technique using two sets of wool ropes. The rugs also have no pile because of this hand-woven technique. You’ll find a variety of Kilim rugs from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
What is a Turkish kilim rug?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021
A Turkish kilim rug is a pileless, tapestry-woven rug that can be used for decorative purposes or as a prayer rug. They are produced by interweaving the warp and weft strands of the weave and typically feature geometrically ornate designs. Shop a collection of vintage and designer Turkish kilim rugs from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
What is the difference between a rug and a kilim?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 26, 2024
The difference between a rug and a kilim is the specificity of the terms. A rug is any soft floor covering. Artisans produce rugs using a wide range of techniques, and rugs may have a flat surface or a raised pile. A kilim is a handmade rug that features a flat weave and is usually made of natural fibers such as wool, silk and cotton. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of rugs.
What is the difference between kilim and Dhurrie rugs?
2 Answers
NazmiyalMarch 23, 2021
Generally speaking, Dhurrie rugs are cotton flat weaves from India while Kilims are flat woven wool rugs from different location around the world.
1stDibs ExpertAugust 17, 2021
The difference between Kilim and Dhurrie rugs is the location of creation. Kilim is a name for a flat-woven rug created in Persia. Dhurrie, on the other hand, is a name for a flat-woven rug made in India. Shop Kilim and Dhurrie rugs on 1stDibs.
How can you tell if a kilim rug is real?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 26, 2024
To tell if a kilim rug is real, look for labeling that indicates the fibers. True kilim rugs tend to be crafted by hand out of natural fibers such as wool, silk and cotton. Rugs that contain synthetic fibers like polyester or polyethylene or that have "machine-made" or similar verbiage on their labels are likely not kilims. Next, consider the pattern. The weaving technique used to make kilim rugs usually results in linear geometric patterns. Curving forms or irregular or scattered patterns are unlikely to appear on authentic pieces. If you're still not sure about the authenticity of your floor covering, ask a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer for a professional opinion. Shop a selection of kilim rugs on 1stDibs.

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