A Kilim (or Kelim) (or Gelim, in Persian), is a flatwoven rug, taking its name from the Turkish word for prayer rug. Kilims are produced by tightly interweaving the warp and weft strands of the weave to produce a flat (i.e. pileless) surface. Persia and Persian can refer to: the Western name for the state of Iran. ... A rug can be: a carpet with a finished edge, particularly one that can be moved slang for a toupee a rug is a garment made by humans to protect their pets from the elements, as in a horse rug or dog coat RUG, short for Rijksuniversiteit Groningen or The... The warp is the set of lengthwise threads attached to a loom before weaving begins. ... Weft or woof is the yarn which is shuttled back and forth across the warp to create a woven fabric. ...

Because Kilims are much quicker, easier and cheaper to produce than 'standard' oriental carpets (i.e. pile carpets) they represent a good starting point for those just beginning to develop an interest in the collecting of carpets. Despite what many perceive as their secondary (or inferior) status to pile carpets, Kilims have become increasingly collectable in themselves over recent years, with quality pieces now commanding the prices that their workmanship rightly deserves.

Books

• Allane, Lee (1988). Oriental Rugs: A Buyer's Guide. Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0-500-27517-3.