TURKISH
CARPETS
We will
learn more about the Turkish Carpets on the tour.
The following information can prepare you to the wonderful examples that
the Turkish man and women had created for centuries
KAYSERI
Kayseri is
one of three important districts in Anatolia where large wool on
cotton carpets for halls are produced. The warp and the weft are
cotton, the knots are wool. These represent the continuation of
the first examples of palace carpets, the origins of their designs
date back to the period of Seljuk. Seljuk carpet weaving reached its
peak in the13th and 14th centuries when
caravans carried their carpets to Byzantium and the far west as
the east west trade route passed through Anatolia. This district
has remained a carpet weaving center for centuries. Just as in all other centers, Kayseri also has its unique
patterns and colors.
KONYA LADIK
Marco Polo wrote that the most beautiful carpets he had ever seen
were those in the districts of Konya, Kayseri and Sivas.
Old Turkish miniatures often depict foreign envoys
being presented to the Sultan as they stand on the medallion of a
carpet lying before the throne. These carpets are still woven
today with the same beauty. The warp and weft is cotton and their
knots are wool. They are among the most durable carpets owing to
their dense weaving and usually decorated with medallion and
floral motifs.
HEREKE
Ottoman Sultans transported one of the carpet weaving centers,
distinguished for its superior craftsmanship, to the Marmara
coast. The Hereke carpet workshops were thus established in
1891 to weave carpets for the palace only.
Carpets to be presented to the emperors as gifts were also
loomed at these workshops. Consequent the carpets produced there
have been among the finest examples in the history of carpet
weaving.
Both carpet and fabric weaving crafts advanced to such an extent
that fabric weaving for Ottoman Sultan's dresses and the internal
decorations of the palace, as well as the carpets decorating the
palace floors, were exclusively supplied from these workshops.
A mutual exchange of motifs and designs between the carpet
and fabric weavers also developed. This process led to the
integrity of motifs in Hereke. The quality of weaving was also
under the control by the Sultans.
Hereke carpets are decorated with the most beautiful motifs,
pointing to the continuity of the Ottoman culture in which love of
nature has a special significance. Their patterns emerge from
infinity, they come in to the carpet through one border and
then go out through another, disappearing again into infinity.
Natural flowers and bouquets are permanent patterns in
Hereke carpets.
KAYSERI SILK
Kayseri is an important center for processing Bursa silk. The
centuries old tradition of carpet weaving has created the best
quality, pure silk carpets in Kayseri.
Due to its location right in the center of Anatolia, and at
the crossroads of trade routes, this district has the highest
level of trade and artistic interaction with the east. As Tabriz
motifs can be found in Kayseri carpets, countless Turkish motifs
have been passed onto Persian carpets via Kayseri.
HEREKE SILK
In 1891 carpet masters called in from Gordes, Demirci and Sivas by
Ottoman Sultans, began to work at the workshops established
in Hereke. These masters taught their carpet weaving skills to the
villagers in the area, thereby transforming the district of Hereke
into an important carpet weaving center.
Palace carpets and those to be presented as gifts to
foreign statesmen began to be loomed there. These high quality
carpets, woven in Bursa silk, are the most prized carpets in the
world today. They have an average of 100 knots to the centimeter.
The warp and weft as well as the knots are in pure silk. They are
decorated with patterns of the most beautiful flowers (1001
flowers) of nature, such as roses, carnations and tulips.
FINE
SILK CARPETS HEREKE
The designs and motifs of fine Hereke carpets are products of a I
00 year old craft. Some Hereke carpets, which have 225-289-324 and
more knots to the square centimeter, have an immeasurable value.
These masterpieces of art, produced as a result of years of work
by unknown craftsmen, are among the carpets most sought after by
collectors. As each one is unique and original it is very
difficult to find a second one of the same type. These silk
paintings woven in Hereke, a source of pride for Turkey, are so
beautiful that the world’s artists can only envy them. Silk
itself is a symbol of nobility, and combined with such fine work,
these carpets justifiably preserve the title of the most precious
carpets in the world.
YAGCIBEDiR
These carpets have been woven since the 14th century in Bergama,
which is known as a very famous weaving district.
Documents show that Bergama carpets, dyed from kermes
insect and indigo dye, were sold in lstanbul in the 15th century.
Dark red and navy blue colors and silky fine wool are still used
in Yagcibedir carpets today. Eagle star and cone are some of the
most common motifs. They are thin carpets with short pile,
relief's and clear-cut patterns.
MILAS
Carpets have been woven in the Milas district for centuries.
Origins of some motifs go back to Ottoman times.
Milas is also an important tobacco growing center in the
Aegean region. Tobacco leaf is used to make vegetable dyes.
Dominant colors of these carpets, which usually contain a mosque
niche, are dark yellow and light brown.
A high quality, hand spun, silky fine wool is used in warp
and weft as well as knots. With its pastel colors it is a very
decorative carpet.
D0SEMEALTI
People of Dosemealti, who live on the skirts of the Taurus
mountains, are the most interesting carpet weavers in Anatolia.
Dosemealti, with its long tradition of weaving, have a
panorama motif in their carpeta.
Usually dyed in red, navy blue and white colors.
The most frequently used motifs are camels and scorpions.
YAHYALI
Anatolian women and girls transpose all their feelings and
thoughts onto their carpet by transforming the knots into motifs
and attributing certain meanings to each one of them. Yahyali
carpets are no exception. One of the most important carpet weaving
centers in Cappadocia, Yahyali's weavers use deep colors like dark
red and dark blue. These carpets are renowned for a balanced
distribution of motifs, their unique wool and quality craftsmanship.
Natural dyes used in Yahyali are those produced from wine
leaves, wild mint, walnut shell and buckthorn.
TASPINAR
Typical to central Anatolia, Taspinar carpets have radiant
colors in beautiful harmony. As in all other carpets, weavers use
natural local dyes here. Dominant
colors are indigo blue, brick red and red brown. They are woven in
wool that is sheared during the spring season.
Taspinar carpets are among the most beautiful carpets of
Anatolia. They may have one niche or two.
KARS
Kars carpets are among the quality carpets woven on high plains of
north east Anatolia. In this district, with its long tradition of
carpet weaving, it is very common and traditional to use the eagle
motif. Sheep, which live here usually have black or brown, coarse,
thick wool. Consequently Kars carpets contain original colors of
this local wool. Today they are among the popular quality carpets
due to their strength, durability, and weaving method.
NIGDE
KARS
The Aksaray district is an import carpet producing center.
13th century Arab travelers wrote that the carpets of the
district were exported to Egypt, Syria, lraq, Iran, India
and China. Still preserving its significance, a different
version of Kars carpets have been produced in Nigde. The
weaving, method there has added some softness to these carpets,
which are polular also for their pastel colors.
SIRVAN
Containing a unique and rich motif composition, these carpets are
all geometrically patterned. The most common motifs used are of
charm, fertility and productivity.
They are among the quality, nomadic carpets and are as
multi-colored as all other's nomadic carpets.
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