A Remarkable Antique Room Size Turkish Tribal Oushak Rug, Country of Origin: Turkey, Circa Date: 1900 – This gorgeous antique Turkish Oushak rug has a distinguished old-world feel, and yet a tribal charm. This beautiful rug was produced around 1900 and is over 100 years old. Oushak is a small town located in West central Anatolia that is located just south of modern day Istanbul, Turkey. Antique rugs from Oushak are distinguished in the world of Oriental carpets for several reasons.
Oushak was a major center for the production of Turkish rugs at the beginning of the Ottoman Empire. In the late 15th century, the town was located close to a major wool production center, and the weavers had access to large quantities of natural dyes. The carpets from the area tend to be coarser than those produced in other areas of the Turkish and Persian empires. They were typically a wool warp, weft and pile.
They are distinguished in their pattern and the range of colors that are used. One will often see a broader variety of colors, including tans, greens and background colors that differed from the typical red and blue backgrounds found in other areas of the world. This range of colors is one of the distinguishing characteristics that make antique Turkish Oushak rugs a beautiful addition to any formal room.
The design of this extremely decorative rug is based on a central point, but instead of a formal restricting central medallion, the center only contains a single central motif. However, the treatment of the other motifs around it suggests a central medallion design, that one might expect in this type of carpet. You may also notice that the motifs in the field are not interconnected, but each one stands alone.
The beautiful use of color in this Turkish Oushak carpet is subdued, and the design is simple, using only a few well-placed motifs. It is a simple, tribal design that shows excellent skill and attention to design detail. It has a natural, tribal feel that makes it stand out as a unique piece. It is versatile and would complement a traditional or contemporary design.