Rug Design

Authentic Turkish rugs are decorated in traditional patterns and designs. Each village or tribal area incorporates their own particular motif, pattern or design into the rugs produced in their area. These motifs and designs are passed down from mother to daughter, and thus the rugs from each region have maintained their individuality, retaining the same designs, colours and symbols.

The most common designs found in the early knotted Anatolian rugs are the eight pointed star, the Kufic border and the geometric motif. Gradually, with the rise of the Ottoman empire in the 14th century, other motifs began appearing in the Anatolian rugs.

The village and tribal women who weave their kilims, or their rugs, include motifs and symbols representing their loves. Thus, a rug may provide an insight into the makers family, lifestyle, happinesses and losses. In this way, an authentic village or tribal rug provides a link to it's creator in a way that a factory-made rug will never be able to do.

Some of the more popular motifs denote the weaver's status in the community, life experiences, emotions, relationships and connections with their environment. A Tribal rug weaver would also include a family or clan sign in the design. Other motifs include:

Hands on Hips or Mother symbol, representing the mother goddess, is incorporated into a rug when the weaver has given birth to a boy, as an expression of her pride at having done so.

Evil eye, believed to ward off evil and bring the bearer good luck. The evil eye is sometimes combined with the Hand of the Prophet's Sister, which combines the dual meanings of good luck and fertility.

Ram's Horn, representing fertility, heroism and power.

Hair Band, representing a young woman's desire to marry.

Birds, such as the eagle or hawk,  symbolise strength and power. A phoenix and dragon fighting, symbolises the coming of the spring rains.

Scorpion, Dragon, Snake. From the earliest times, people have believed that by imitating a dangerous animal, or representing it in art form, they will have power over it and protection from it.  Thus may a stylised snake, scorpion or dragon may be incorporated in a kilim or rug.