Every carpet, with its patterns, resembles a collection of messages, beliefs and symbols. They are declaration of wish, on which all expectations are enshrined. Every pattern that is woven into a carpet is a picture of a feeling, a desire or a wish. So far as that every carpet represents a living history from the early ages to the present in which women have patiently and untiringly written their joys and sorrows in amazing codes and magic letters which are to be read line by line.

As well as being one of the most indispensable interior decoration goods, carpet has long been a precious gift item, migrating on the routes of conquest and trade, carrying its patterns from one place to another, and this magic work of craft has finally traveled throughout the ages to our times with its colors, symbol-language and with all its beauty, becoming a subject of "flying carpet" tales.

Turkish Carpets in Europe

Since the 13th century high quality carpets have been woven in certain Anatolian districts. The fact that Anatolian carpets began to appear in Europe paintings from the 14th century, with a further increase in the 15th century, indicates that these carpets were very popular in Europe. Carpets of Usak and Bergama, significant weaving centers of 16th century Anatolia, are among the important items decorating the museums of Europe. At the universal exhibition held in 1867 in Paris, Turkey received awards in silk crafts as European interest. Due to the fact that Turkey did not have adequate carpet loom to meet such demands at the time, Persian ant Far Eastern carpets which are woven more easily and quickly to suit mass production, thus made their way into European market. However, they have not been able to overshadow the reputation of Turkish carpets.

Carpets

The first step in carpet making is to have a pattern or a design. Master weavers do not need a pattern outline, but retain it in their memories. The second step involves the choice of material which differs according to the type and region. The material of a carpet may be wool, pure silk or cotton. The colors also are characteristic of the region where the carpet is made. The threads used in the weaving of antique carpets were used to be dyed with natural dyes known only by the family that manufactured them. Reflecting its weaver's skill, carpet forms one of the most important items in the dowry of the young Anatolian girl preparing for the marriage. Dowry carpets are usually kept for life and laid only to honor important guests. At present carpet looms at villages have stubbornly resisted modern developments and resolutely carried on this traditional craft and historical custom. These carpets which once decorated the palaces of sultans have also become an important means of investment today.

The rugs are divided in three categories which depends on the technique :

• carpets are knotted
• kilims are weaved
• sumaks and cicims are embroidered

Weaving the Carpet

The outline of a carpet loom looks like a wooden frame. Warp threads are vertically wound around the loom parallel to each other, depending on the type and size of the carpet. After preparing the warp, a chain like plait called "chiti" is woven, leaving a margin for fringes, and then a 2-4cm wide kilim weaving is done so as to prevent the pile knots from shifting and dropping out. Upon completion of this procedure, the carpet is ready for weaving.

Sitting on a small tool, the weaver begin weaving the carpet from the bottom upwards. As the weaving progressed, the carpet is shifted behind the loom. Upon completion of a row of knots, the weaver passes the horizontal thread called weft through the warp threads (below and above) across the width of the carpet, and firmly presses on the knots with the shed stick. The end of knots, which have been cut roughly with a knife at the time of each knotting, are then trimmed with a special pair of scissors to make them even with the face (pile) of the carpet.

Type of knots

The two methods used in carpet weaving are; (Gordes) Turkish knot and (Sine) Persian knot (single knot). The double knot, known as the Gördes knot, is used in all typical Turkish carpets. The Gördes knot makes a carpet stronger, firmer and more durable, while the Persian knot largely facilitates the weaving of varied patterns. However, once a carpet is finished, it is difficult to determine the knotting system.

Dying Techniques

Nature provides its own store of colors. Trees, flowers, plants and even certain type of soil supply incredibly beautiful natural colors. The various formulas for dye production have been passed down from generation to generation. At present, pear leaf, alchemilla, vine leaf, quince fruit and leaf, dyer's daisy, buckthorn, walnut shell and leaf, indigo plant, plane-tree leaf, agnus-castus, linden leaf, acacia flower, pomegranate, snapdragon, wild mint, peach leaf, saffron, wild rose and many others plants are used to produce natural dyes, resulting in extremely beautiful shades of color.

Typical Turkish Rugs

Hand made carpets are generally called after the region or town where they are manufactured. Contemporary carpets are made in various sizes and with combinations of various materials.

1 - Pure silk carpets

Hereke : Since the 19th century, Hereke (small town 60 km. east of İstanbul) has been one of the most important carpet weaving center and produce the most famous and finest silk carpets of the world. The first looms were installed by order of the Sultan for the making of carpets for the palace and the nobility. Naturalistic floral decoration is typical of the pure silk Hereke carpets. With a million knots per square meter these carpets represent the supreme achievement of contemporary carpet weaving. Some of them are embroidered in gold thread. They are manufactured in various sizes with the silk produced in Bursa. Hereke is also famous its cotton and wool carpets.

Kayseri : The town of Kayseri, which is the industrial capital of Cappadocia is one of the most famous carpet manufacturing centers of Turkey. Carpets are produced using a variety of techniques and materials in all sizes. It is possible to find prayer pure silk carpets, also with floral decoration. They have about 640.000 knots per square meter. As Hereke, Kayseri is also known for its cotton and wool carpets.

2 - Cotton and wool

They are produced in Hereke and Kayseri. Their base is cotton and the knots wool.

Pure wool carpets

Milas : It is an important carpet center in Western Anatolia. Milas carpets are made in pale, delicate tones produced with vegetable dyes. The dominant colors are yellow, tobacco color, dark and light brown and reddish brown. The geometric patterns are the predominant design; another characteristic feature is the use of the "mihrap" (prayer niche) pattern.

Döşeme altı (Nomade) : The seminomadic tribes of the yürüks, near Antalya, manufacture handmade carpets, döşeme altı, from the pure wool and vegetal dyes they themselves produce. The nomadic taste is expressed in geometric patterns, and a color harmony of blues, dark greens and reds.

Yahyalı : These carpets, produced in very small region, are famous all over the world. High quality pure wool and vegetal dyes are used by the weavers who produce their own material. Dominant colors of a Yahyalı carpet are navy blue, red and brown. The major designs of a "mihrap" or a medallion are elaborated with the addition of geometric patterns.

3 - Kilims

Pure silk kilims : In the past, kilims were woven by nomadic tribes to make utility objects for their tents such as curtains, floor carpets, cradles, donkey bags and such… Now they are produced in the villages with the traditional methods for the decoration of contemporary houses.

Before we started manufacturing them in Turkey, it was only possible to find cotton and silk Kilims. Three years ago we decided to replace cotton by silk for the warp threads as well. So were created the pure silk kilims (weft and warp). They are manufactured for us in the area of Kayseri, their patterns are always geometric and they are woven with a lot of different natural dyes in all sizes.

Wool kilims : They are produced in Kayseri, Denizli and Van. If they all possess geometric patterns, the colors are different according to the region they come from.