Oushak Rugs

Oushak rugs are not as familiar a household name as Persian rugs, but these Turkish masterpieces should get the recognition they deserve. They come out of an ancient tradition in western Anatolia, which is south fo the main city of Istanbul, in a small town called Oushak, and huge production center for rugs dating back to the fifteenth century. The rugs are definitely Persian influences, but were hand woven by Turkish nomads for hearth and home, as necessities as well as art.

After the fifteenth century, such area rugs became more popular and were beginning to be produced for trade and profit, not just for personal use. Oushak surpassed other towns in the region with their rich dyes and superior wool. The rugs became known for their quality and distinctiveness, and retain that fame to this very day, all around the world.

Even today, these rugs are in high demand for their bold colors and classic, intricate patterns, and for a nice fusion of traditional Persian aesthetic and a thick, durable, double knotted Turkish weave. They tend to have fairly geometric designs, as most people in Turkey are Muslim and may not depict humans or animals in art. Plants, leaves, and flowers are common themes, and dark ivory, gold, and red make many appearances in the palette. These particular combinations are unique to these rugs and found nowhere else in such numbers. In Turkey, only prayer rugs are allowed the privilege of using the sacred color green, and many Oushak rugs use green for this very purpose.

Oushak rugs would look great in a living room or under a dining room table for a sophisticated, non-mainstream flair. They tend to be small to mid-ranged, in terms of size, because they were often produced on smaller, portable looms used by nomads.