TURKISH RUGS & CARPETS

Carpets, whether knotted or flat woven (hummus) are among the best-known art forms produced by the Turks from time immemorial. There are environmental, sociological, economic, and religious reasons for the widespread art of carpet weaving among the Turkish people from Central Asia to Turkey.

The Expansion and Development of Turkish Rug Dallas and Kilim Weaving in Anatolia

During the time of the Selcuk Empire and before they came to Anatolia, Turks reigned over Iran (Persia) and the Caucasus for several centuries. The art of weaving was introduced to Anatoly by the Selcuks toward the end of the 11^th and the beginning of the 12^th century when Selcuk's sovereignty was at its strongest. In addition to numerous carpet fragments, many of which are yet to be documented, there are 18 carpets and fragments which are known to be of Selcuk origin. The technical aspects and a vast variety of designs used prove the resourcefulness of Selcuk rug weaving. The oldest surviving Selcuk carpets are dated from the 13^th-14^th centuries. Eight of these carpets were discovered in the Alaeddin Mosque in Konya (capital of Anatolian Selcuks) in 1905 by Loytred, a member of the German consulate staff and were woven at some time between the years 1220 and 1250 at the apex of Selcuks reign.