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Anatolian: Turkish, Oushak
Anatolian translates to "land of the rising sun" and is a general term referring to things made in Turkey.
Antique Oushak rugs have been woven in Western Turkey in a town of the same name since the beginning of the Ottoman period (15th-17th century).
In the middle of the 19th century Oushak (an area south of Istanbul)
re-emerged as a major oriental rug weaving center for Turkey.
Istanbul is the gateway to the famous silk route including both Eastern and Western cultures. The roads from the west stretch from Istanbul to China, the Caucasus, Iran/ Persia, Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Open trade gave way to shared motifs and design formats.
However animals and figures were forbidden in their weaving due to religious practices. The earliest Turkish prayer rugs are attributed to Oushak in the 16th century. They are coarsely woven using
traditional dyes such as saffron and poppies.
This gives them their yellow and orange coloring.
Turkey is actively preserving its unique weaving heritage in their modern day productions. Modern day designs are influenced by traditional Persian patterns. However the larger Turkish knot count yields more
stylized floral motifs, medallions and rosettes.
While traditional antique Oushaks are bright red, yellow and orange, modern day productions veer towards a softer color palette.
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