← Explore on the interactive map

Ottoman Carpet Weaving

Type Object Region West Asia Time 1400–1700

Centered on Anatolia, Istanbul court workshops, and folk workshops in Ushak, known for knotted pile technique and geometric and floral patterns;…

Timeline

  1. 1400–1500Anatolian Plateau · AnatoliaThe Ottomans inherited Turkic and Persian carpet traditions; village workshops in Anatolia hand-knotted wool carpets, with geometric patterns and demand for mosque carpets driving standardization of technique.
  2. 1551–1560Ushak and Izmir port · UshakIn the 1550s Ushak 'star' and 'medallion' pattern carpets were imported into Europe in large numbers by Venetian and Genoese merchants, appearing in Habsburg and papal paintings and becoming a symbol of Ottoman soft power.
  3. 1560–1650Istanbul court workshops · IstanbulIn the mid-to-late 16th century court workshops promoted symmetrical floral and silk-blend carpets for mosques, palaces, and diplomatic gifts; folk workshops also imitated court patterns, forming a tiered market.

Sources