 Oushak
rugs originated in the small town of Oushak in west central Anatolia,
just south of Istanbul, Turkey. Unlike most Turkish rugs, Oushak rugs
are most definitely Persian influenced. Oushak has been a production
center of Turkish rugs since the 15th century and today these beautiful
area rugs are produced in Iran as well. Prior to this, Oushak rugs were
woven by nomads for their necessities of life. After the design
revolution took place in the late 15th century, area rugs began to be
produced in Oushak for commercial purposes due to easy access to superb
wool and natural dyes. Oushak rugs produced in Turkey and Iran remain
in very high demand due in large part to their excellent quality. They
tend to be more coarsely woven than other Persian rugs, and are always
woven with the Ghiordes knot.
The designs on Oushak rugs are typically based on geometric motifs,
frequently of a prayer niche design. This is due largely to the fact
that since most Turks are Muslims, they observe the prohibition against
the depiction of people and animals. Many feature intricate motifs of
vines and leaves. Oushak rugs are distinctive in both pattern and color
palette. Most have a dark ivory or golden background accented by red
geometric or floral motifs. The use of ivory, gold, and red is
particular to Oushak rugs. The sacred color, green, is used on prayer
rugs. All of the rich colors are created with natural vegetable dyes.
The foundations of Oushak rugs are cotton, while the pile is wool. They
normally range from small to mid-size because of the primitive looms
that are used, although large rugs can be found. Oushak rugs are all
double knotted for durability. These magnificent tribal designs can add
a splash of color to any room in the house and are so versatile that
they can be used as throws and mats in addition to floor coverings.
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