Turkish Rugs - A Long History

Weaving began in central Asia and spread out to other areas of the Middle East. Turkey was one of the first locations to take up the art and soon Turkish rugs became valued around the world. The first rug weaving factory in Turkey was established in the 14th century in a remote village near Istanbul.

The history of piled or knotted rug making in Turkey is closely related to the history of rug making in Persia. In fact one of the two common knots used in rug making is the Turkish knot, which was brought to Persia at the time of the invasion.

There are several regions of carpet weaving in Turkey, each with their own color combinations and designs. Turkish rugs are constructed with both hand knotting and flat weaving using a variety of materials, including silk on silk, wool on cotton, wool on wool, and viscose on cotton.

The designs are mostly based on geometric motifs and frequently in red and blue. Green, which is the sacred color, is used on prayer rugs. Anatolian carpets usually are made in smaller sizes, with the exception of Ushaks. Most of the Anatolian carpets are prayer rugs with the distinctive mihrab motif.

By the 15th century, a wider variety of animal motifs were used in rug design.. A new group of rugs with a combination of both geometric patterns and animal motifs appeared around this time.

In the 16th century began the second successful period of Anatolian rug-weaving. The rugs from this period are called 'Classical Ottoman Rugs'. These rugs are called 'Palace rugs' because the design and colors would have been chosen by the palace artists to be constructed at weaving centers. These are the finest of the Anatolian rugs.

The Kurdish Nomadic rugs originate from the eastern part of Turkey. Because of their nomadic lifestyle, living in tents, they needed a durable and well-made carpet to withstand the hardships. The Kurdish nomads immigrated from other countries before settling in eastern Turkey, and so these rugs have a different style from other Turkish rugs.

In the early 19th and 20th centuries, the rugs woven in Hereke (near Istanbul) received worldwide recognition. These rugs were originally woven for the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire.

But you don't have to travel to a Turkish village for a wide variety of rug choices. You can find antique and contemporary Turkish rugs on the web. Most of the time, the best discounts and selections are readily available from dealers on the Internet.