A Turkish rug is first identified by its knot. Anatolia uses the symmetrical knot, known as the Turkish or Ghiordes knot, which binds two warp threads together instead of one. This creates a denser, more durable pile than the Persian knot, at the cost of slightly less refined detail.

Where our Turkish rugs come from

Our selection comes from Anatolia, the Asian part of Turkey, where weaving is as much a village activity as a workshop craft. The cities of Konya and Kayseri were for a long time the two major markets where the production from the surrounding countryside was gathered, which explains why their names are used today to designate styles rather than precise places of manufacture.

The major Turkish rug families

The Konya rugs make up our largest Turkish contingent: red backgrounds, stylized geometric motifs, and a fairly loose weave. These are rugs of character, without frills.

The Kayseri rugs are finer, with a low pile, pastel shades, and are often inspired by Persian designs from Tabriz. Kayseri and Tabriz exchanged rugs in both directions for centuries.

We also have Melas, Safir, Turkish patchwork rugs, and a few rare Hereke silk pieces. These families do not yet have their own dedicated page on the website: you will find them in this collection.

Which size to choose

Antique Turkish rug sizes are often medium: between 150 and 250 cm long, which is ideal for an apartment living room or bedroom. For a bedroom, a 280 x 180 placed across the width of the bed works well for a 140 or 160 bed. See our medium rugs.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Turkish prayer rug?

It is a small rug whose design features a mihrab, an oriented arch that indicates the direction of prayer. Many can be found in Anatolia. Today, they are mostly bought for their graphic design.

Why are the colors of antique Turkish rugs so muted?

Because the dyes are plant-based and they develop a patina over time and with exposure to light. This is highly sought after: an antique Turkish rug has blended colors that cannot be artificially reproduced.

Every Turkish rug is a unique piece, sold with its certificate of origin. Also see our Iranian rugs and our Azerbaijani rugs.