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When it comes to the history of oriental rugs, Turkey holds a special place. It was the Turkish people, along with related groups from Central Asia, who introduced knotted pile rugs to the Islamic world. This group includes the Seljuks, who ruled portions of eastern Anatolia as well as parts of Central Asia in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Their rugs are characterized by repeating geometric patterns set against softer, more decorative colors. These types of rugs often appear in the paintings of Renaissance artists.
After the fall of the Seljuks, parts of eastern Anatolia and Central Asia came under the control of the expansive Timurid Dynasty. This period saw an evolution of rug weaving that embraced the advances of previous eras while incorporating new design motifs and techniques. In particular, the popular central medallion pattern that had been pioneered by the Seljuks was now used with animal designs, a new development in the art of the Turkish carpet.
With their opulent colors, bold geometric patterns and intricate details, the rugs of this era were highly sought after by European nobility. Eventually, these carpets were so popular that they became known as the “Holbein carpets,” named after the sixteenth century painter Hans Holbein. Other rugs of this period, such as the Bergama and Hereke styles, featured more abstract, more stylized geometric patterns with graceful curve-linear motifs.
After the decline of the Ottoman Empire, parts of eastern Anatolia and parts of Central Asia again fell under the control of local tribes as well as other independent artisanal carpet weavers. This era saw the return of the prayer rug and the introduction of natural abrash, which features subtle color variations in shades of ivory, madder red, saffron and gold. Other rugs were decorated with blossoming “tree-of-life” or lantern motifs. In addition, the Oushak and Hereke rug-weaving centers produced decorative room-sized rugs that were revered for their silky, soft pastel hues.