What is an Anatolian carpet?

An Anatolian carpet is a woven floor covering originating from the regions of Turkey, traditionally made from wool and cotton. These pieces include large carpets, room-sized rugs, runners, and prayer formats. Production spans centuries of local weaving traditions, incorporating tribal motifs, village designs, and workshop styles from towns such as Oushak and Bergama.

How do I identify a prayer rug?

Prayer rugs are identified by the presence of a distinct arch or mihrab shape at one end of the design field. This architectural niche directed the user during daily devotions. Such rugs generally measure in smaller formats suitable for individual use, unlike large salon carpets meant for broader floor spaces.

What materials were used?

Weavers relied predominantly on sheep's wool for the pile, combined with cotton foundations for stability in many nineteenth and early twentieth century pieces. Camel wool also appears in specific regional pieces to create natural, undyed golden-brown fields. Hand-spun wool fibres absorbed natural dyes unevenly, resulting in the characteristic abrash and varied colour tones seen across older carpets.

How should I care for an old carpet?

Living with these textiles involves placing them in areas with moderate foot traffic and avoiding direct, prolonged exposure to harsh sunlight. Regular gentle vacuuming without a rotating brush helps remove embedded dust from the wool pile. Professional cleaning suited for antique textiles preserves the natural lanolin in the wool and prevents the dyes from running.

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Vintage Anatolian Carpet

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When you search for a vintage anatolian carpet, you are looking at woven wool floor coverings from Turkey spanning the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.