The Phases of the Kilim
Pirot kilim making went through several phases of development:
The first phase is the time of ist formation (16th century), when it was made exclusively for domestic needs. Simple and uncoloured rugs, sheets and multicoloured rugs (called “ŝarenice”) were made.
The second phase covers the 17th and 18th century. In that period of time the kilim making was improved considerably. The weaving has been done on a vertical loom known under the name “Pirot loom”. The Pirot vertical loom is a simple divice leaned against a wall gently inclined. It consists of two upright woods (called “soje”) and two laid ones (called “krosna”). An integral part of it is also a wooden stick (called “obnitelnik”) in the height of the woman weaver’s breast. The loom consists also of two wooden parts at length of the “soja”, a back spacer called “povratilo” and a barriere called “zaponka” for separation threads strung out and called “zav” and some wooden parts for tightening the warp – “wedging parts”. The other accessories for the kilim making consists of a pushing part (called “tupica”) for woof compression, a basket with rolls and pillow for sitting.
The first phase is the time of ist formation (16th century), when it was made exclusively for domestic needs. Simple and uncoloured rugs, sheets and multicoloured rugs (called “ŝarenice”) were made.
The second phase covers the 17th and 18th century. In that period of time the kilim making was improved considerably. The weaving has been done on a vertical loom known under the name “Pirot loom”. The Pirot vertical loom is a simple divice leaned against a wall gently inclined. It consists of two upright woods (called “soje”) and two laid ones (called “krosna”). An integral part of it is also a wooden stick (called “obnitelnik”) in the height of the woman weaver’s breast. The loom consists also of two wooden parts at length of the “soja”, a back spacer called “povratilo” and a barriere called “zaponka” for separation threads strung out and called “zav” and some wooden parts for tightening the warp – “wedging parts”. The other accessories for the kilim making consists of a pushing part (called “tupica”) for woof compression, a basket with rolls and pillow for sitting.
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In its third phase (19th century), Pirot kilim reached the highest technical and art values with its real wealth of ornaments, colours and motifs. Such a high
level of kilim making in the next fourth phase meant a completely mastered manufacturing technique, a high quality production, a perfect composition of the “kilim”. Till the end of the 19th
century the kilims were dyed by natural (plant) dyes and then by artificial (industrial) ones because they enabled more nuances of one colour.
And so from a century to century the kilim grows out of the frame of the cottage industry and is transformed into a half-handicraffs or handycraffs of a small town which became a manufactoring center for kilim production during the 18th and 19th century. At the end of the 19th century Pirot had 250 looms and between two world wars a half of the whole women inhebitants of Pirot were occupied with kilim making. In 1886 a Kilim society of Pirot was founded and it began to invited to internation exibitions and fairs where the Pirot kilims ussed to win only gold-medals. Today a “Kilim Association”, a Public Enterprise “Piroteks” and a private Enterprise “Limaplast” exist in Pirot.
And so from a century to century the kilim grows out of the frame of the cottage industry and is transformed into a half-handicraffs or handycraffs of a small town which became a manufactoring center for kilim production during the 18th and 19th century. At the end of the 19th century Pirot had 250 looms and between two world wars a half of the whole women inhebitants of Pirot were occupied with kilim making. In 1886 a Kilim society of Pirot was founded and it began to invited to internation exibitions and fairs where the Pirot kilims ussed to win only gold-medals. Today a “Kilim Association”, a Public Enterprise “Piroteks” and a private Enterprise “Limaplast” exist in Pirot.