Antique and Vintage Turkish Rugs

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Turkish rugs are a subset of so-called "Oriental rugs," which were produced in the Rug Belt, a region extending from North Africa, across the Middle East, and into Central Asia. Unlike Persian rugs, the decorations on Turkish rugs are hardly ever...
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Turkish rugs are a subset of so-called "Oriental rugs," which were produced in the Rug Belt, a region extending from North Africa, across the Middle East, and into Central Asia. Unlike Persian rugs, the decorations on Turkish rugs are hardly ever strictly ornamental. Even patterns that might look purely geometric to the Western eye symbolize flora or fauna, and are intended to convey messages, beliefs, wishes, whims, and even rebukes. Over the ages, Turkish women in urban centers and nomadic camps have been weaving in these coded messages, with some motifs originating in the Anatolia region as far back as 3000 B.C., using their double-knot technique. The meanings are conveyed down to the smallest detail—from the color to the kind of flower woven into the rug. For example, an engaged woman expressing her giddy feelings of love weaves pink hyacinths into her rug. If a woman is feeling melancholy the hyacinths will be purple, and if she wants to express her loyalty, the hyacinths are white. Poppies represent spring, tulips and carnations are for love and peace, the clover for luck, fertility, and paradise. Nomads were the first Turkish carpet makers; wool rugs solved the problem of covering the cold, hard ground under their tents to keep their feet warm. Eventually, the nomads settled into villages and their carpets took on distinct regional styles. These rugs generally come in five standard sizes: 60 x 100 cm (about 2’ x 3’3.5”), 90 x 135 cm (about 3’ x 4’5”), 130 x 200 cm (about 4’3” x 6’6.5”), 150 x 200 (about 5’ x 6’6.5”), and 200 x 300 cm (6’6.5” x 9.10”). Besides the rugs, another less-durable kind of Turkish carpet is a kilim, or kelim, usually used for kneeling during prayer or hung on the wall as a tapestry. Many of the motifs in these rugs and kilims are designed to defend against the evil eye, a supernatural power that can wreak death and destruction with a single look. Thus, the carpet serves as a charm often laid in the rooms of children, who...
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