Werner Brändl has died

Werner Brändl, a gallerist and passionate connoisseur of antique rugs and textiles, died on 28 September 2026 aged 77. He ran Galerie Kelim in Würzburg, Germany, and had a particular focus on Anatolian flatweaves.

His enthusiasm for old rugs and textiles began with his first trip to Turkey in 1974. In the early 1980s this led to the founding of Galerie Kelim, which shows nomadic textile art from the 17th to the mid-20th century. From 1984 Brändl organised several exhibitions every year, most recently “Symbol & Colour” until the end of May 2026. The gallery was also a meeting place for collectors, hosting more than 20 collectors’ meetings. He wrote articles for Carpet Collector, the former sister magazine of Carpet Home.

His knowledge of the history and origins of textiles, and his efforts to foster exchange among collectors, will be missed. The gallery will not be continued, so a long-standing meeting place for collectors in Würzburg is expected to come to an end after 45 years. It remains open to visitors until the end of December 2026.

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