Vintage Turkish Rugs – Rustic Warmth and Inspired Design

From kilim to hand-knotted pile, vintage Turkish rugs add rustic warmth and inspired design to any room. Whether you want to create a focal point or seamlessly tie your room together, these rugs will do the trick.

However, buying a rug straight from the village isn’t easy. Usually, they go through several intermediaries that sell them to tourists and local shops.

Origin

Originally, Turkish rugs were woven as functional pieces of flooring for nomadic peoples. They offered warmth, protection from moisture and dirt and a way of marking their territory.

Today, antique Turkish rugs are sought out for their ability to transform a room with their rich color palettes and motifs. They often incorporate natural dyes that are dyed through the rug, meaning they will continue to look vibrant and new.

The most common material used in a Turkish rug is wool, which offers a soft lustrous sheen and high durability. Some vintage turkish rugs are overdyed, a technique that gives them a distressed and weathered look. Silk is another common material in Turkish rugs, offering a luxurious touch to any space. It is also very strong and pliable, making it ideal for rug weaving.

Design

Antique Turkish rugs – or Anatolian rugs – offer interior designers and homeowners a wealth of decorative options. From oxidized colors and lustrous pastels to monumental botanical motifs and Safavid Persian patterns, these wool carpets carry a distinct Oriental aesthetic.

Rug weaving in Turkey has been a constantly changing endeavor. As empires waxed and waned, so did the craft’s ability to adapt to new styles.

The early Ottomans embraced and oversaw several significant changes in rug weaving, especially in the important weaving center of Oushak. Geometrical motifs were prevalent at this time, with a particularly strong presence of the “Gol” or medallion-like pattern that was also popularized in European paintings by the Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer.

Authentic vintage Turkish rugs are one-of-a-kind. They can add warmth, class and a sense of history to any room.

Motifs

Turkish rug weavers are known for incorporating various types of motifs into their pieces. These motifs can tell you a story the weaver wanted to share. From fetter motifs to fertility motifs, these motifs can add value to your rug.

Traditionally, weavers used natural dyes to color their wool. Chemical dyes have since been invented, but they cannot reproduce the subtle gradations in hue that characterize authentic vintage Turkish rugs.

Motifs are also a good way to identify a particular tribe or region. For example, the elibelinde motif symbolizes femininity and motherhood while kocboynuzu, which depicts a ram’s horn, represents traits valued by Anatolians such as courage and strength. Another common motif is the tree of life, which shows a connection between earth and heaven above.

Materials

Turkish rugs often feature intricate patterns and rich color palettes. They also use natural wool and vegetable dyes to ensure longevity and durability. This makes them a great choice for rustic spaces and palatial drawing rooms alike.

These rugs are also popular for adding a pop of interest to contemporary homes. For example, some rugs are sunned to give them a faded pastel effect. This is an excellent way to showcase the craftsmanship of your rug.

Vintage Turkish rugs are often hand-knotted by local weavers in small villages. They are often made from wool or silk and use cotton as a warp to allow for tighter knots. This creates an authentic, antique look that is coveted around the world. In addition to their aesthetic beauty, these rugs also hold a deep significance for their owners. They are considered lucky charms that protect against the “evil eye.”

Value

A vintage Turkish rug is more than just a decorative piece – it is a valuable art object steeped in cultural heritage and tradition. From lustrous pastels and beautifully stylized arabesques to monumental botanical designs, these rugs elicit a sense of majesty and sophistication.

These rugs were woven in rug weaving villages across Anatolia, and their popularity surged during the mid-nineteenth century when the West experienced a tremendous Oriental revival. From the symmetrical composition of Ushak rugs to the rustic tribal motifs of Ferahan, a Turkish rug is a direct reflection of its culture of origin.

Unlike modern synthetic rugs, vintage wool rugs are made from natural materials and are thus heirloom-quality pieces that can be passed down through generations. As such, they can appreciate in value over time.