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The most ancient furnishings: why Turkish carpets swept the markets
The most ancient furnishings: why Turkish carpets swept the markets
The most ancient furnishings: why Turkish carpets swept the markets
Turkish carpets tell the history of one of the most ancient civilizations in the world, which succeeded in transforming from just a woven piece into a cultural symbol of Turkey. It swept the markets and merchants from all over the world flocked to import it and sell it in their local markets, and it became a school in carpet design whose distinctive patterns and shapes are adopted by carpet designers in the carpets they weave. In this article, you will learn more about it.
Contents
What are Turkish carpets?
Turkish rugs are rugs made in Turkey that are famous for the beautiful, intricate patterns and rich, natural-looking colors that represent the ethnic diversity of the Turkish nation and the historical richness of its culture. It is easy to notice Turkish carpets with some obvious outward features such as the visible soft, pleasant semi-shimmering texture and the change of color depending on how it is exposed to the reflection of light.
Turkish carpets differ in their forms: there are natural and ornate designs, as well as geometric and pictorial motifs. It also differs in the method of manufacture as follows:
- Handmade Turkish carpets: It is a type of carpet that is manually manufactured according to traditional methods passed down by Turkish artisans generation after generation. It is characterized by its classic designs and multiple non-neutral colors, and its ideas that each tell a different story. This type is preferred by romantic carpet lovers, but it is rare to find. It is currently on it, and it is sold at exorbitant prices, as it represents a historical masterpiece, and its price depends on the type of knot used in weaving it and the number of knots per meter.
- Machine-made Turkish carpet: It is the most abundant and widespread type. It relies on modern automated methods in its manufacture, but it combines classic and modern designs in its design. Synthetic materials are incorporated into the fabric of the machine-made Turkish carpet to make it more durable and suitable for modern life today, so it is more durable and less susceptible to corrosion, and it is sold at an affordable price.
Characteristics of Turkish carpets
Why are Turkish carpets so popular? The following features explain its growing popularity:
Bright and balanced colours
Although Turkish carpets often include many colors mixed together, such as red, dark blue, brown, gray, black and yellow, yet you will feel balanced and calm when you see the design as a whole. In addition, the bright and bold colors that characterize Turkish carpets make it more beautiful and capture the heart of everyone who sees it. Some of them shine and become more vibrant and bright when exposed to direct sunlight.
Exquisite and unique designs
Turkish carpets contain geometric formations, floral shapes, and unique and attractive Bedouin motifs that are easy to distinguish from any other type of carpet. They say that every element hides behind it something with us or represents a symbol of an emotion or an event, as weavers used to convey their beautiful feelings and dreams about love, wealth and health in the designs of the carpets in their hands.
Multiple uses
The stereotype about Turkish rugs is that they are classic oriental rugs that are only suitable for oriental and traditional decorations, but the truth is otherwise. Turkish carpets are characterized by their high flexibility and versatility, as they are suitable for various interior design styles, whether classic or modern.
Turkish carpets are also suitable for being a decorative piece that complements another central piece, and it itself can be a focal point for the place. Not only that, but its striking beauty makes it not only used as a floor covering, but can also be hung on the wall as a decoration, and it is also suitable as a staircase carpet, a prayer mat, or a mat in the kitchen or bathroom.
The ancient history of Turkish carpets
Turkey was the meeting point of many wandering Asian tribes, who established the carpet craft in the country. It is known that the Bedouins were the first to invent carpets in history due to their difficult living conditions where the harsh cold and constant movement from one place to another, so they relied on carpets made of sheep’s wool that They take care of it so that they can sleep on the ground, so it gives them levelness, cleanliness, warmth and protection from insects.
The oldest carpet in the world is a carpet called the "Pazyryk carpet", which was found by Russian archaeologists after World War II and since then is on display in the Russian Petersburg Museum. The rug features the well-known Turkish knot and the octagonal Turkish rose. As for the oldest carpet in Turkey, its size is impressive, as it reaches a length of 6 meters, which indicates that it was not made on a traditional loom in a Bedouin tent or a village house, but rather was most likely woven in a factory in one of the cities.
These antique pieces are dominated by red, green and blue colors, as we notice hexagonal shapes, squares and lozenges arranged in rows and decorated with stars, flowers or leaves.
The Turks transported carpets to Europe When trade began to flourish between the two sides during the rule of the Ottoman Empire, the demand for Turkish carpets was very high and Renaissance artists used to paint antique Turkish carpets in their paintings. As a result of this convergence between the eastern and western civilizations, the carpet industry in Turkey developed little by little, and a workshop was built for the manufacture of carpets in the French Baroque style. At that time, a new type of carpet called “palace carpet” began to appear, flourishing with different colors and forms of roses such as lilacs, carnations, and tulips.
What are the best types of Turkish carpets?
Due to the great prosperity that the Turkish carpet industry is currently experiencing, the market has become full of different types that vary between each other in manufacturing materials, texture, durability, etc. Below we discuss the most prominent types of Turkish carpets, their components, and their most important features:
Polyamide carpets
This type is famous for its strong texture and radiant colors because it is made of polyamide, so it is characterized by both durability and elegance.
polyester rugs
Polyester Turkish carpets are characterized by their beautiful colors, ease of cleaning, and water resistance, so it is one of the types of Turkish carpets that combines durability and high quality.
Acrylic carpet
This type is similar to carpets made of wool, but it is characterized by strength, moisture resistance and affordable prices. As indicated by the name, acrylic is included in the manufacture of this type, along with a group of synthetic fibers.
Wool carpets
It is the finest type of Turkish carpet at all and the most expensive in its price. Natural wool yarns are used in its manufacture, which give a soft texture and a shiny appearance that is not repeated in any other type of Turkish carpet.
Bamboo rugs
Bamboo is a 100% natural material. It is used in the manufacture of carpets along with bamboo carpets. It gives the home a look that combines luxury and elegance.
Plush carpets
This type of Turkish carpet is made of plush yarns with a mixture of acrylic and polyester added.
Viscose carpets
Viscose is a type of artificial silk that combines the softness of silk with the comfort of cotton. Its fibers are made from cellulose extracted from beech wood, so this type of carpet is characterized by its resistance to corrosion over time.
What is the difference between Turkish rugs and Persian rugs?
Both Turkish carpets and Persian carpets enjoy a wide international reputation as one of the most high-quality carpets due to their durability and durability, in addition to that, the wonderful designs that smell the fragrant of history made these two types one of the most important types of classic carpets. Below we explain the difference between Turkish carpets and Persian carpets so that you can easily distinguish between them:
First: the origin
As we discussed, Turkish carpets are made in Turkey, and it collects the heritage of the Bedouins who migrated from Central Asia to Turkey. As for Persian carpets, they are manufactured in Iran and embody the culture of the Persian Empire, whose roots go back thousands of years.
Second: spinning technique
Each type uses different spinning techniques from the other type. Turkish carpets are made using the double knot called the "Turkish knot", a method of weaving in which fibers are wrapped around each strand. While Persian carpets are made using the "single knot" technique. These techniques are reflected in the designs of each type as we shall see.
Third: design
The Turkish double knot helps in making straight designs more than circular designs, so many pieces of Turkish carpets include straight lines, geometric and Bedouin shapes. Turkish weavers incorporate motifs into the design to represent a story or use symbols to refer to the history of the region and the ups and downs of Asian empires.
As for Persian carpets, they are characterized by elaborate and complex designs, as in the picture above, because the single knot that is used in its manufacture makes it easy to draw round designs such as flowers, animals, and people with great accuracy. In Persian carpets, the medallion design is spread in the middle of the piece and is surrounded by other designs such as spiral motifs.
How to decorate the house with Turkish carpets
Turkish carpets are the perfect piece that can refresh the look of any bored room, and they will also help you choose the colors of the rest of the room's components. Below we will discuss how you can coordinate the rug with your home décor, whether it is modern or classic:
Mix different styles
The diversity of patterns balances the general appearance on the one hand, and on the other hand, it relieves the eye from the rule of only one pattern. Be sure to choose a plain upholstery fabric in the furnishings in order to harmonize with the patterned Turkish carpet, then choose patterned cushions or bold color or design. On the contrary, if you decide to choose plain Turkish carpets, you can choose the upholstery fabric to be patterned.
Choose the type of rug that matches your home décor
Turkish carpets are suitable for different types of homes: with modern decor, classic decor, and a mixture of both. You can choose a classic Turkish carpet rich in colors if you prefer classic décor, and you can also choose Turkish carpets with geometric shapes that blend easily with modern décor. On the other hand, it is very common to mix a classic carpet with modern furniture as a common way to get a middle look between modern and classic.
Take inspiration from the color palette of rugs
There are hundreds of wooden pieces and dozens of paint colors, among which you can easily find the color you want, while the Turkish carpet of striking beauty that catches your eye may only find one piece, so it is practical to start choosing the carpet when thinking about how to design the room Before you think about what furniture you will put.
The piece of Turkish carpet will direct you to the color palette that should be adopted for the place. Choose one or two colors from the background of the carpet design, which are usually neutral colors, then add to them one or two of the appropriate beautiful colors that you want to decorate the room with in accessories.
For example, choose beige and dark brown colors for the room's furniture and walls from the background of the carpet and mix them with soft pink and pale blue colors in the vase, for example. There is another way to draw inspiration from carpets, as in the image above, as the motifs of the carpet are similar to the wooden motifs in the library.
Conclusion
Turkish carpet weavers expressed their love for this industry in the language of weaving, where its vocabulary is colors and motifs. The next time you see a Turkish carpet, you do not see it as an ordinary piece of decor, but rather as a masterpiece that bears the history and culture of one of the most skilled weavers in the world.
Sources:
https://stamboulbazaar.com/2021/10/10/famous-and-legendary-turkish-carpets-and-rugs-kilim/
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https://www.dorisleslieblau.com/a-brief-history-of-antique-turkish-rugs/
https://lologifts.com/blogs/news/10-characteristics-of-turkish-rugs-you-need-to-know-before-you-buy
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