Turkish Rugs

Turkish rugs are mistakenly called Oriental rugs by those who either lack the background in textile history or simply cannot tell apart antique Turkish rugs from those colloquially referred to as Oriental. Turkish rugs may fit into this delineation of woven artwork to a certain degree, but the connoisseur of true Turkish rugs and carpets will scoff at the notion of simply referring to it as a rug that is sometimes lumped in with Persian rugs, other times with Orientals.

Granted, the average discount Turkish rug that you might purchase at the big box home improvement stores are little more than recreations of the more traditional – and authentic - Turkish rug that used the grace the inside of cathedrals, adorn the walls of fortresses and castles, and oftentimes was considered more valuable than money itself. The authenticity of Turkish rugs should be evaluated by a trained art historian or textile expert, since many a Turkish prayer rug is little more than part and parcel of a shipment of machine made rugs from Turkey.

Thus, whether you are in the market for an honest to goodness Turkish village prayer rug, or are simply shopping for an antique Turkish rug, be careful when perusing Turkish carpet/rug ads on the Internet, auction sites, or even websites that claim you can do your buying for discount Turkish rugs via a website that connects to a bona fide Istanbul, Turkey rug shopping business. Instead, know a bit more about Turkish rugs before parting with your hard earned money.

For example, Turkish rugs that claim to be Ushak originals can only hail from the city of Usak. If you are thinking of buying an Istanbul Ushak, you are probably purchasing a reproduction. Gilims are Turkish rugs that are mostly prayer rugs. Some claim that they are of inferior quality, but the fact that there are so many different kinds around make them a rather satisfying passion for those who like to collect artifacts and artwork. Other Turkish rugs that may be priced are Bergama rugs which are always made from pure wool and thus are expensive and require a lot of taking care and exquisite maintenance.

As you can see, there is a lot more to these kinds of collectible rugs than meet the eye. Do not be deceived by those who would sell you fake antiques, and unless you are truly knowledgeable in the field, ally yourself with a bona fide expert who can advise you in your purchases.