Although it may not seem so to an inexperienced person, there are actually many types of Turkish carpets. And we’re not referring to the basic difference between kilims and carpets, which we discuss in this other post, but to the different types of designs and patterns that can be distinguished in traditional carpets. And you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the enormous variety that exists.
Basic Concepts: Origins and Production Centers
First of all, it’s worth noting that the tradition of producing carpets in Turkey dates back many centuries. This activity was already developed in the Anatolian beyliks, even before the formation of the Ottoman Empire. But it was during the time of this great political entity that its fame spread throughout the world.
For this reason, carpets produced in places outside of present-day Turkey that were under Ottoman rule, such as those from Transylvania (Romania) or Cairo, are often also known as Turkish or Ottoman carpets.
However, in this post, we will focus on those produced in major artisanal centers of present-day Turkey, such as Istanbul, Bergama, Usak, Konya or Cappadocia (Avanos, Kayseri or Ürgüp). In reality, this activity is spread throughout the country, from Western Anatolia to Eastern Anatolia, including the central part, so in the following lines we address some typologies in a general way, without attempting to carry out an encyclopedic classification task.
Some Types of Carpets to Consider
One of the types of Turkish carpets that generates the most surprise are the so-called Holbein or Lotto carpets. They receive this name because these famous European Renaissance painters frequently included them in their paintings, giving the composition an extra touch of refinement, solemnity, and color. Lorenzo Lotto’s carpets stand out for their prolific golden geometric arabesques on a red field. Hans Holbein the Younger’s, on the other hand, usually feature designs with stars inscribed in octagons, small floral ornaments, and Kufic details on the edges, possibly inspired by the production of Bergama and Usak.
In any case, the Usak carpets present many other varieties. And those with ovoid medallions and stars deserve special mention, intertwined with floral tracery in an infinite repetition, which seems to denote a Persian influence from the 16th century onwards.
Near Usak, in Selendi, carpets with a white background were developed, generally with several bands of decoration, in many cases with series of more or less schematic birds.
Also very interesting are the so-called prayer rugs, named as such because in the center of the composition there is usually a design inspired by mihrabs and which, in fact, are oriented towards Mecca when the faithful kneels on it to pray. Bursa and Kayseri are two production centers that still stand out today in this typology.
And special mention should be made of the so-called Hereke carpets, also associated with the Medici or Baroque style, which from the late 18th century and throughout the 19th century decorated the main palaces of the country. For example, the Dolmabahçe Palace. Their productions are only within reach of a few, as true collector’s items, but they served as inspiration for subsequent production. What makes them unique is their extraordinary level of precision, thanks to the mastery of their knots and refined materials, where silk threads have an important presence.
The list is more extensive and can go into many other details, but now that you have more advanced notions about carpets, you will surely be able to better appreciate and choose the works of art that you will contemplate in situ when you visit an artisanal loom in one of our circuits, for example in the Cappadocia area.
