Turkish Area Rugs: History, Styles & Our Heritage Istanbul Collection

Arsh's Rug Library · Rug Styles

Rust and gold rug in an elegant living room with a chandelier — Shown: Istanbul Luke, 4'10" x 5'11", from our Heritage Istanbul collection

Turkey has one of the oldest and richest rug-weaving traditions in the world. Its rugs range from bold village geometrics to soft, open Oushaks and fine court designs.

A long tradition

Some of the earliest surviving pile carpets come from Anatolia, woven in the time of the Seljuk Turks in the 1200s. Under the Ottomans, Turkish carpets became a prized export to Europe. They appear so often in Renaissance paintings that some designs are still named after the painters who showed them, such as Holbein and Lotto carpets.

The main Turkish styles

Oushak: soft colors and large, open designs from western Turkey. See our Oushak guide.
Village rugs: bold geometric designs in strong reds and blues, woven from memory in rural Anatolia.
Kilims: flat-woven rugs full of diamonds and zigzags. See our kilim guide.
Fine court designs: detailed florals and medallions in the tradition of the Ottoman palace workshops, often in very fine wool or silk.

Blue and ivory rug in a light living room — Heritage Istanbul rugs in a living room and a bedroom.

Blue and ivory rug at the foot of a bed — Heritage Istanbul rugs in a living room and a bedroom.

The Turkish knot

Turkish rugs are traditionally tied with the symmetric knot, also called the Turkish or Ghiordes knot, which wraps around two warp threads and is very sturdy. Our knot guide shows how it differs from the Persian knot, and our Persian vs Turkish guide compares the two traditions.

Our Heritage Istanbul collection

Our Heritage Istanbul collection is made in Turkey, with classic and transitional designs in soft blues, ivories, golds and rusts. The rugs range from small accent sizes to large room sizes, and each one is one of a kind.

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