Anatolian Rugs

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What Is An Anatolian Rug?

    The term "Anatolian rug" is now often used to refer to rugs and carpets woven in Anatolia and its surrounding regions.

  • Origin: Anatolia

    The Anatolian rug manufacturing's region is geographically comparable to that of the Ottoman Empire's historically dominant territories. It refers to a knotted, pile-woven floor or wall covering made for domestic use, local sale and export. Like the flat-woven kilim, Anatolian carpets are an essential aspect of the region's culture, which is now officially known as Turkey's Culture and stems from the ethnic, religious and cultural diversity of one of the world's oldest civilisations.

  • Anatolian Rug Characteristics

    The Anatolian rug stands out among Persian carpets because of its unique dyes and colours, motifs, textures and techniques. Small pillows (yastik) to big, room-sized carpets are all examples.

    Anatolian carpets are frequently knotted with symmetrical knots, so widely used in the region that Western rug merchants used the term "Turkish" or "Ghiordes" knot to describe the technique in the early twentieth century.

  • Common Designs: Symmetrical, Central Medallion, Mihrab

    Anatolian rug design incorporates a variety of traditions. Specific features are linked to Turkic peoples' history and interactions with neighbouring civilisations, both in Central Asia and during their migration and in Anatolia itself. The Chinese and Islamic cultures had the most significant cultural influences. Bergama and Konya carpets are thought to be the most closely related to previous antique Anatolian rugs, and their historical significance is now better appreciated.

  • Common Colours: Beige, Gold, Silver, Red, Black, Orange, Blue, Green

    Plants, insects and minerals are utilised to make traditional Anatolian carpet colours. The first aniline dye, mauveine, was created by English chemist William Henry Perkin in 1856. Following that, a slew of new synthetic colours were developed. Compared to natural dyes, they were less expensive, easier to make and apply, and their use in Ushak carpets dates back to the mid-1860s. The Ottoman court manufacturers began producing silk-piled rugs in the 1870s, often with inwoven gold or silver threads. Still, the majority of Anatolian rugs were traditionally made of hand-spun, naturally-dyed wool. Natural dyeing was reintroduced in the early 1980s, based on chemical analysis of natural dyes extracted from antique wool samples and experimental re-creation of dyeing recipes and procedures.

    Natural wool comes in various colours, including white, brown, fawn, yellow and grey, and is frequently used without being dyed, even though it also takes up dyes well.

  • Material: Wool, Cotton, Silk

    Handmade carpets are composed entirely of natural fibres. Rugs were made at all levels of society simultaneously, using wool and silk as the most frequent materials for the pile. Weavers from nomads and villages sometimes utilise goat and camel hair as well. Spinning is traditionally done by hand. After that, several strands of yarn are plied together to make a strong yarn that may be used for weaving.

    The most traditional style of Anatolian rug is wool-on-wool (wool pile on wool warp and weft). Wool-on-wool carpet weaving is older than its competitors and uses more traditional design themes. Because wool cannot be spun as finely as cotton or silk, the knot count is usually lower than in "wool-on-cotton" or "silk-on-silk" rugs. Tribal or nomadic production is most often associated with wool-on-wool carpets.

  • The History Of Antique Anatolian Rugs

    Rug weaving is an ancient skill that dates back to prehistoric times. Even the oldest surviving rugs, such as the Pazyryk rug, demonstrate that carpets were woven far earlier. The woven carpet's art and craft have absorbed and merged various cultural traditions throughout its lengthy history.

    Anatolian rugs date back to the thirteenth century, according to the earliest surviving samples. Since then, several kinds of carpets have been woven in court manufacturers and regional workshops, village residences, tribal communities and nomadic tents.

    Anatolian carpets bear traces of Byzantine design; Turkic peoples migrating from Central Asia and Armenians, Caucasians and Kurdish tribes living in or relocating to Anatolia at various times in history contributed to their customary themes and ornamentation. The introduction of Islam and the development of Islamic art have had a significant impact on Anatolian rug design as can be seen from antique Anatolian rugs.

    As a result, ornamentation and patterns reflect the region's political history and social variety. On the other hand, scientific research has yet to be able to link any given design aspect to a specific ethnic or regional heritage or even distinguish between nomadic and village design patterns.

    Oriental rugs have been the topic of art-historical and scientific attention in the Western world. Antique Anatolian rugs were commonly featured in Renaissance paintings in Europe and were frequently depicted in a background of dignity, distinction, and richness. After the 13th century, political and commercial ties between Western Europe and the Islamic world grew stronger. When direct trade with the Ottoman Empire was established in the 14th century, all sorts of carpets were indiscriminately given the trade label "Turkish" carpets, regardless of where they were made. Rug weaving's complexity and cultural diversity were eventually appreciated.

    Ertug and Kocabiyik created Anatolian Carpets. The most extravagant publication in the subject of oriental rugs from the second half of the twentieth century. Ertug & Kocabiyik contributed funds to conserving 140 unique antique Turkish carpets, nearly all of which had never been published before. Ahmet Ertug used large-format cameras to capture the carpets, resulting in minutely detailed photos that will provide Turkish carpet and textile enthusiasts with an unrivalled visual experience. Leading carpet and textile periodicals have given the book rave reviews.

    With the arrival of synthetic dyes in the last third of the nineteenth century, the art and skill of the Anatolian rug underwent significant modifications. The mass manufacture of low-cost rugs aimed at commercial success had nearly wiped out the traditional heritage. Projects like the DOBAG Carpet Initiative have successfully resurrected the practice of Anatolian rug weaving using hand-spun, naturally-dyed wool and traditional motifs in the late twentieth century.

  • Why Choose London House Rugs?

    At London House Rugs, we are rug experts. We've spent over four decades honing our technique and establishing long-term, ethical relationships with weavers throughout the East. London House Rugs has rigorous sourcing, manufacturing and finishing processes to ensure rugs' quality and beauty.

    We spend a significant amount of time in the Middle East looking for the best carpets and forming long-term, ethical connections with weaving cooperatives. We have a large selection of new and antique carpets in various sizes in our stock.

    Individuals and corporations work with us to design, manufacture and locate carpets for a range of uses. Please see some of our recent projects to get an idea of the broad spectrum of services we offer, ranging from a single hearth rug for your own house to a hundred handcrafted carpets for a hotel rollout.

    Because we have over 40 years of experience, we can assist you in finding the right rug for your space.