What are Turkish rugs?
There are two types of Turkish rugs available in the market today. We have Turkish rugs that were made and originated from the different regions of Turkey. We also have the cheaper type which is rugs that are Turkish-inspired.
Turkish-inspired rugs are essentially your basic area rugs. The only thing that makes it distinct from other area rugs is the design. Turkish designs have very distinct patterns that can mean different things. Other than the design, Turkish-inspired rugs can come in sizes typical of a basic area rug. It is also priced as cheaply as any area rug.
On the other hand, authentic Turkish rugs are expensive. The cheapest one can cost around $250 and the more expensive ones can range from a thousand dollars to the tens of thousands of dollars.
The value of these rugs depends on the materials, construction and the pattern. Most important indicator though is the region where these rugs were made. When it comes to materials, there are three distinct types: wool on wool, wool on cotton and silk on silk. Wool on wool is the cheapest among the materials because wool cannot be spun finely. However, according to some, rugs made from this type of material are the most authentic Turkish rugs available. Designs are usually geometric patterns. Silk on silk Turkish rugs are often the most expensive and have very intricate designs. This is because silk can be weaved very finely therefore the designs can range from floral to geometric patterns. There even rugs that have woven sceneries which make it more expensive.
You can also categorize the value of Turkish rugs depending on the region they were made from. There 5 distinct regions in turkey where they can originate from. There are Bergama rugs, Ushak rugs, Milas rugs, Hereke rugs and Konya Rugs. Bergama rugs are the oldest rugs available. Some of them date back to the 11th century. Ushak rugs are popular in European countries because of the silky, luminous wool weavers use to make the rugs. Milas rugs are distinct because of the designs. Hereke rugs are known because instead of materials like wool, cotton and silk, there are some rugs that use silver and gold threads. Lastly, Konya rugs, similar to Ushak rugs, are known for the wool used. It is considered by many that the wool from this area is the richest in the world.
Whatever the material used to make them or wherever region in Turkey they came from, one thing that’s certain about authentic Turkish rugs is the fact that they are the most sough after rugs available in the market. Although expensive, owning one will be a great investment and a very good design addition to any home.