The Origin and Development of The Kilim
The word kilim (k’ilim is Turkisch) is the name for all kinds of rugs, spreads, curtains made by a different weaving technique, mostly of wool. The oldest kilims were found in the crypt of
Tutmos IV pharao (in the year 1400 B.C.) and among the most famons ones belong: Persian, Afghan, China, Caucasian and the like.
It can’t be still established for sure where are the very beginnings of making the Pirot kilim. It is considered that the carpet industry was born as logical result of several different effects –
from the East, Byzantium, Turkey. Some scientists think that the Pirot kilim has been originated from a horse blanket used under the horse saddle.
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The Kilims of Pirot were usually used for covering floors, walls and windows decorations, for bedspreds and for covering parts of furniture. Wool (obtained from the sheep from the Stara Planina
mountian for making kilims of Pirot) is the most significant for a good qualitiy of the kilim that is for its long duration, nice appearance and a high quality weaving. First, the sheared wool used
to be classified by quality that is by fiber length and then washed in boiling water, rinsed out and at the end dried. After that wool was subjected to bleaching, dyeing – in and spinning.