Yuruk Rugs

Yuruk rugs, more than any other type, exemplify the great nomadic tradition of Turkish carpet weaving (Yuruk means nomad in Turkish). Yuruks were produced in Eastern Anatolia, so at times they appear closely related to the rugs of the nearby Caucasus. But for the most part Yuruk rugs derive from much earlier Turkish weavings from further west, like those of Bergama and Oushak. Their repertoire is abstract and geometric like the oldest Turkish carpets. Rarely do they utilize floral elements, and even then only in the most stylized form. Later pieces tend to be are dark and purplish. Richer more varied color indicates a relatively early date in the nineteenth century.