Hand-woven Oushak rugs: not designed for foot traffic

A West Anatolia Oushak rug dating to the late 19th century achieved $30,000 plus the buyer’s premium in December 2018. Image courtesy of Material Culture and LiveAuctioneers
A late 19th-century West Anatolia Oushak rug achieved $30,000 plus the buyer’s premium in December 2018. Image courtesy of Material Culture and LiveAuctioneers

NEW YORK – During the Renaissance, European elites collected luxurious hand-woven textiles they called “Turkey” rugs, symbols of wealth and majesty imported from Oushak, Anatolia in the Ottoman Empire. Unlike more formal, tightly woven Persian pieces, they featured relatively long pile, fairly loose knots, and a relaxed design realized in rich, appealing shades of red, blue, gold and terracotta.

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