How do I care for a tribal wool rug?

Vacuum gently without a rotating brush roll to protect the hand-spun wool pile and natural dyes. Professional cleaning should occur periodically to remove grit embedded deep within the foundation. Keep the textile out of direct sunlight to prevent fading of the indigo and secondary tones. Using a breathable rug underlay prevents slipping and allows air circulation underneath.

What does a prayer niche signify?

The arched mihrab design indicates the direction of Mecca during daily Islamic prayers. Weavers arranged these architectural motifs at one end of the rug to guide the user. Single, double, or triple mihrab formats appear across various tribal traditions. Over time, these devotional rugs transitioned into domestic spaces as decorative floor coverings.

Why are some kilims woven in two parts?

Nomadic looms possessed limited widths, restricting the horizontal span a weaver could construct in a single pass. Craftspeople resolved this by producing two matching flatweave panels and stitching them together. This construction method allowed tribes to create large floor coverings and sofreh cloths on portable looms. The joined seams form a standard structural characteristic of specific regional kilims.