How do I care for my runner?

Protect the textile by placing a breathable rug underlay beneath it to prevent slipping and reduce friction against the floor. Vacuum gently using low suction without a rotating brush roll. Keep the piece out of direct sunlight to prevent fading of the wool fibres. Professional cleaning by a specialist in antique textiles ensures safe maintenance.

How can I tell the age of a rug?

Age is assessed through material analysis, structural evidence in the foundation, and dye characteristics. Hand-spun wool and natural dye palettes generally point towards nineteenth-century production. Stylistic conventions and regional weaving traits also help place pieces within specific decades. Comparing structural quirks to documented examples refines the date.

Where were these pieces made?

These textiles originate from various provinces and nomadic communities across Anatolia, now modern Turkey. Major production centres included Ushak, Konya, Kirsehir, and Sivas. Village workshops and Kurdish tribal groups contributed distinct regional colour palettes and geometric vocabularies. Each locale utilised local sheep breeds and native dye plants.