A ‘cicim’. First half of the 20th century, from the Toros mountains, (semi-)nomadic origin.

Cicim (pronounced “jijim”) is one of four Anatolian flat-woven rug types; the other three are kilim, zili and sumak/soumak.
The technique used for ‘cicim’ is: on a plain woven underground, a second horizontal coloured weft strand (thicker than the one used for the underground) creates the decorative design, in which diagonal lines dominate. The thickness of the second weft strand causes the impression of a second layer on top of the woven underground, which is – technically spoken – not the case. The technique is sometimes referred to as ‘brocading’.
Many cicim-weaves are from Yörük origin, and 100% wool (no cotton used).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: The Kavak Collection of Anatolian Rugs and Weaves, Antwerpen/Belgium.
& ‘Günaydın Anadolu – Tradities van Turkije’ – cataloog Tentoonstelling Hessenhuis/Antwerpen 1988 .