In this blog entry, the New Jersey carpet cleaning team here at Carpetline will detail some important things to know about cleaning your turkish rug.
What is a Turkish rug?
Turkish rugs, also called Anatolian rugs, are handcrafted in Turkey using traditional weaving methods. They were invented in Konya, a manufacturing region, during the 1200s. Greek aesthetics influenced their early design,a s well as the geometrical motifs used in prayer rugs. During the 14th and 15th century, more geometrical motifs and animal motifs were used in typical rugs. Eventually weaving techniques moved South, creating huge variation in Turkish rug style and design. This created huge demand for handmade Turkish rugs.
How are Turkish rugs created?
Today, many Turkish rugs are made in factories, while vintage rugs are hand-knotted and totally unique. Turkish rug value is based on the material used, whether they are made of:
- Wool on cotton
- Silk on silk
- Wool on wool
- Viscose on cotton
- Kilims
- Tulu
Handcrafted Turkish rugs are made of a skeleton structure, created with vertical and horizontal threads, and a pile, almost a picture-like velvety surface made by knotting together different thread colors. Turkish rug motifs may be symmetrically knotted or non-symmetrically knotted.
- Turkish rugs with natural dyes are coveted. Dye is made from plants, animals, and minerals, and colors may include yellow, red, navy blue, gray, and black. Natural dyes make longer lasting and more vivid colors that last sunlight exposure better.
- Common imagery motifs in Turkish rugs are the Tree of Life, dragons, the Evil EYe, and Hanging Candles.
You can tell a Turkish rug is real by:
- If a hand-knotted Turkish rug has a soft back and if it’s pattern matches the top pile like a mirror image
- If the edges where the threads create a fringe DOES NOT have the fringe sewn directly onto the ends
- If a turkish rug has bleeding colors, it’s likely fake
- If the turkish rug is not made of wool or silk, it is fake