History Of Carpets / CARPET LIVE

The art of carpet and kilim started by domestication of sheep, dictated by the nomadic life style conditions to inside and the outside of the tent.

According to historiographers in Altay region the nomadic culture called "Afanasyevo Culture" required a material easy to carry by animals. However according to other authorities the origin of carpets are from dry steppe regions and since Turks tribes are the most distinctive nomadic ethnic group it is natural to accept that Turkish tribes have played major role in manufacturing and wide spreading of carpets. Turkish people made imprints of goats and ram from wool on carpets and kilims. Even nowadays the hand- made shoes from the wool of goat with sewing of ram ornaments can be seen in Kazak Turks in Kazakhstan and other Turkish republics.

Carpets were shaped by Turkish history;

Serare Yetkin, who at his studies give importance to the thought that carpets and carpet business is a branch of art, says, "Traditional Turkish carpet art has a special place in our history". S.Yetkin stated that Turkish carpet art shaped through Turkish history and came to nowadays condition. The explanation he made to our magazine states, "The characteristics of knot technique of carpet weaving art, first seen in Turks populated areas of Middle Asia, were developed and introduced to whole Muslim world by Turks". The presence of this traditional art, reliable textile motives and knot technique can be mentioned nowadays. The technical features of Turkish carpet become the basis for systematic and continuous improvements. Knotted carpets have very long history. Bulgarians shows that first knotted carpets were used in Middle Asia. The usage of "Gordes Knot" in Turkish knotted technique shows that traditional Turkish carpet art has very old basis.

The examples of previous known old knot technique were found in East Turkistan. Those examples dated between 3 and 6 A.D. centuries. Made on one warp, using open knot technique, they draw attention with its simple geometric patterns and bright colors.

From 11 century Selchuklar introduced knotted carpet technique to nearest eastern countries. However, none of the sample of that period when Selchuks dominated in Iran was found.