A Brief History of Turkish Rugs

Sara Wolf, the director of the Textile Museum in Washington D.C. and an expert on Turkish carpets, told the Washington Post, “What inspired me was the fabulous designs and colors. They have every bit of the pizzazz as a piece of modern art. They’re straight forward and bold, and they never go out of style...There’s a lot of personality, individuality and whimsy in the old pieces. I pine for the personality that the weaver incorporated into their work when it was an important part of their culture.”

The most famous types of Turkish rugs are Anatolian, Melez, Kirsehir, Oushak, Sivas, Tulu, Kayseri, Hereke, Ghiordes, Kulah, Konya and Borlou. Most carpets from South Eastern Anatolia were highly influenced by Iran and Syria. They shared a similar use of colors and patterns, emphasizing red tones and striking a balance between positive and negative space. They also frequently featured Armenian floral and tree designs.

Ghiordes rugs are mostly rectilinear, colorful, and have multi-bordered patterns. They often display mihrabs and hanging lamps, as well as some architectural motifs.

Oushak rugs typically feature royal tones of brick red, deep blue, gold, and terracotta. They are vibrantly colorful and highly preferred by interior designers. Oushak Rugs have been the choice of artists like Holbein, Velasquez, Vermeer, and Memling. 

It is believed that Borlou Rugs were weaved by skilled Seljuks in the 13th century. Later, in the 15th and 16th centuries, they were widely treasured and collected by Europeans. The specific geographic origin of these rugs could be determined by identifying the signature design used by the weaver, which corresponded to the region from which they came. 

Sivas rugs use a limited color palette, with a maximum of eight or nine colors for each rug. Primary colors like red and blue dominate the whole design, in harmony with softer, lighter colors. Decorative antique carpets from Sivas are finely woven and they emulate the classical Persian style with centre medallions and floral infill. 

Hereke rugs are exceptionally beautiful pieces of art. They mostly have subtle, muted colors and they feature intricate designs, throughout. They were woven in the 19th century with the intention to furnish palaces, so they not only contained wool, silk, and cotton, but also featured threads of gold or silver. 

Overall, Turkish rugs are made to last, with strong materials and natural dyes. Their patterns and designs are still visible today after hundreds of years and their colors have not faded. These are some of the sources of the natural dyes that are used in Turkish rugs.