Pirotrug, Pirot carpet or Pirot kilim refers to a variety of flat tapestry- woven rugs traditionally produced in Pirot, a town in southeastern Serbia. Pirot kilim is often referred as one of the National symbols of Serbia. Pirot kilim making is the skill of making rugs on a vertical loom. The skill is used in the production of woollen kilims, decorated with various geometric, vegetal and figural ornaments. Today's authentic tapestry has developed under the influence of Oriental and Bulgarian kilim weaving. Rug-making in Pirot is included on the list Intangible cultural heritage of Serbia. The Pirot kilims are considered as part of the Eastern Serbian kilim weaving tradition, together with Chiprovtsi carpets. An example of the patterns from the last periods is the Model of Rašič, which was based on kilim brought by Serbian general Mihailo Rašič. Pirot kilims with some 122 ornaments and 96 different types have been protected by geographical indication in 2002. They are one of the most important traditional handicrafts in Serbia. In the late 19th century and up to the Second World War, Pirot kilims have been frequently used as insignia of Serbian royalty. This tradition was revived in 2011 when Pirot kilims were reintroduced for state ceremonies in Serbia.
Overview
Carpet weaving in Pirot dates back to the Middle Ages. One of the first mentions of the Pirot kilim in written sources date to 1565, when it was said that the šajkaši boats on the Danube and Drava were covered with Pirot kilims. Pirot was once the most important rug-making centre in the Balkans. Pirot is located on the historical main highway which linked central Europe with Constantinople. Pirot was also known as Şarköy in Turkish. The Pirot carpets and Chiprovtsi carpets influenced the development of each other. An interesting characteristic of Pirot carpets, as well as other Bulgarian carpets is the inscription in Bulgarian of the weaver and the year in which the carpet was weaved. Among the famous Bulgarian weavers were Tsana Tsuponina and Mara Koleva. Today many classical examples of Pirot kilims can be found throughout Bulgaria, Serbia, Turkey, the Balkan peninsula and in many other international collections. One of the chief qualities are the colour effects achieved through the choice and arrangement of colours. In the beginning of the 19thcentury plant dyes were replaced by aniline colourings. From Pirots old Turkish signification as Şarköy stems the traditional trade name of the rugs as Şarköy-kilims. Stemming from the homonym to the today's Turkish settlement of Şarköy in Thracia, which had no established rug making tradition, Şarköys are often falsely ascribed to originate from Turkey. Also in the rug selling industry, Şarköy are mostly labeled as being of oriental or Turkish origin as to easier sell them to non familiar customers as they prefer rug with putative oriental origin. In fact, Şarköys have been established from the 17th century in the region of the Western Balkan or Stara Planina mountains in the towns of Pirot, Berkowiza, Lom, Chiprovtsi and Samokow. Later they have been also produced in Knjaževac and Caribrod.
Cultural organizations
Association "Grlica"
"Association of Preserving and Development of Pirot Carpet", founded 1995
"Pirot Carpet Cooperative" or "Pirot Carpet Zadruga", founded 1902
