When you look at a vintage Anatolian kilim, you are not just looking at geometric shapes and colors. You are reading a diary. For centuries, nomadic women in Anatolia did not use pen and paper to express their hopes, fears, and dreams. Instead, they used wool and the loom.
At Decoriento, every vintage rug in our collection carries a hidden message woven by a woman who lived 50 or 60 years ago. Here is how to decode the secret language of your rug.
1. Elibelinde (Hands on Hips)
This is perhaps the most common and powerful motif. It looks like a stylized female figure with hands on her hips.
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Meaning: It symbolizes motherhood, fertility, and feminine power. When a weaver uses this motif, she is often expressing her joy of being a mother or her hope for a growing family.
2. Hayat Ağacı (Tree of Life)
Often found running vertically through the center of the rug, this motif depicts a tree with branches reaching towards the sky.
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Meaning: It represents immortality and deep roots. Just as a tree connects the earth to the sky, this motif symbolizes the family's hope for a long life and a lineage that continues for generations.
3. Muska (Amulet)
You will often see triangular shapes or eye-like diamonds, usually along the borders of the rug.
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Meaning: Protection. In Anatolian belief, the "evil eye" (nazar) can bring bad luck. Weavers include these motifs to protect their homes and families from negative energy. It acts as a spiritual shield for the house.
4. Sandık (Chest)
This motif looks like a square or rectangle, often with patterns inside.
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Meaning: Marriage and Desire. It represents the dowry chest (çeyiz sandığı). A young woman weaving this is expressing her readiness for marriage and her dreams for her new home.
Conclusion Owning a Decoriento kilim means you are the new guardian of these stories. Whether it is a wish for protection or a celebration of life, the energy woven into these knots now brings warmth and meaning to your modern home.
Discover the story within the knots. [Browse our Vintage Rug Collection]
