Konya carpets

In 1292, Marco Polo was the first to make mention of the Konya carpets in writing when he called them the most beautiful in the world.^[1]^[2] Konya carpets are named for the region in which they were made. Renamed from the Greek “Iconium” when the Seljuk Sultans of Rum made it their capital, Konya is one of the largest, oldest and continuously occupied cities in Asia Minor.^[2] When Polo wrote of the Konyas, he had probably seen them in manufactories that were attached to the Seljuk courts.^[1] In the early 20th century, large carpets were found in the Alaadin Mosque in Konya; they are now housed in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts in Istanbul.^[1] Scholars and collectors alike, primarily for their bold tribal designs and magnificent color combinations not to mention their rarity, covet Konya rugs.

Classification

Konya rugs being made today include those coming from surrounding regions: Dauac, Kesimuslu, Karapinan, Obruk and Taspinar.^[1] All of these regions are included in "Greater Konya", although distinctions can be made between types. Nomadic rugs falling under the Konya region are also known as Yörüks. In a sense Konyas are the Turkish counterparts to Caucasian Kazakhs, though they are generally older and far rarer, and are no less sought after by collectors.

Wool

Konya rugs are prized for their luxurious wool, which comes from the rural areas surrounding the city. The wool from these regions is known to be some of the richest worldwide.^[2]

Colors

Older pieces are characterized by the restraint towards color combinations and their use of earth tones (most notably: soft yellow, terracotta and browns). The wefts of the Konya rugs are always red, distinguishing them from other Persian carpets. The Nomadic pieces within this genre usually have a foundation of dark wool or goat hair.^[2]

Design and Structure

Incorporated within Konya carpets are hexagonal and basic figures. These patterns are tribal motifs. Geometries are either arranged in neat rows or staggered throughout the field. A common geometric motif is the "Memling gul", a geometric medallion patterned throughout the carpet. These rugs also feature a fairly loose knotting technique.

References

1 2 3 4 Neff, Ivan C. and Carol V. Maggs. Dictionary of Oriental Rugs. London: AD. Donker LTD, 1977. ISBN 978-0-949937-35-3
1 2 3 4 Eiland, Murray L. Oriental Rugs.Boston: New York Graphic Society, 1976. ISBN 978-0-8212-0643-0

Rugs and carpets

Rugs	Abadeh Afghan Ahar Alcaraz Arak Ardabil Azerbaijani Bakhtiari Bakshaish Baluch Bessarabian Bidjar Borujerd Braided Caucasian Dhurrie Flokati Heriz Isfahan Jozan Karadagh Kashan Kashmir Kerman Kilim Zanjan Shahsevan rug Kuba Kurdish Lilihan Mashhad Mughal Nain Navajo Oriental Pakistani Petate Qom Rya Sarouk Scandinavia Seraband Seychour Shiraz Sweden Tabriz Tibetan Turkmen Uzbek Julkhyr Uzbek Napramach Varamin Yürük

Carpets	Armenian Bakshaish Bellini Berber Bergama Bessarabian Bradford Caucasian Chiprovtsi Crivelli Fitted Gabbeh Hereke Karabakh Konya Kuba Holbein Lilihan Lotto Memling Milas Persian Pirot Sarouk Turkish Ushak Yomut

People	James F. Ballard Sir Francis Crossley Kurt Erdmann Arthur T. Gregorian Arshag Karagheusian Latif Karimov Julius Lessing William Morris George H. Myers Arthur Upham Pope Alois Riegl Friedrich Sarre Wilhelm von Bode Thomas Whitty Charles T. Yerkes

Places	Axminster Azerbaijan Carpet Museum Carpet Museum of Iran Dar al-Athar al-Islamyya, Kuwait Brukenthal National Museum Louvre Mevlana Museum Metropolitan Museum of Art Miho Museum Museum of Applied Arts (Budapest) Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna Museum of Islamic Art, Doha Museo Poldi Pezzoli Musée des Tissus et des Arts Décoratifs, Lyon Pergamon Museum Saint Louis Art Museum Textile Museum (Washington, D.C.) Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum Turkmen Carpet Museum Victoria and Albert Museum Wilton

Cleaning	Carpet cleaning Dry carpet cleaning Floorcloth

Fabrics	Frieze Shag

Manufacture & installation	Ghiordes & Senneh knots Knot density Pile Rubia Rug hooking Rug making Tack strip Underlay Warp and woof

Dyes	Natural dye Synthetic dye Madder (Rubia tinctorum) Indigofera tinctoria Carmine Cochineal Armenian cochineal Polish cochineal Coccus cacti

Manufacturers	A & M Karagheusian Axminster Carpets Brintons Carpet One Cormar Carpets Dilmaghani Savonnerie manufactory DOBAG Carpet Initiative

Carpets in culture	Eagle rug Early Anatolian Animal carpets Gul Kilim motifs Elibelinde Evil eye Tree of life Magic carpet Oriental carpets in Renaissance painting Pictorial carpet Prayer rug Red carpet Transylvanian rugs War rugs

Notable individual carpets	Ardabil Carpet Armenian Orphan Rug Badding Rug Bahar-e Kasra Coronation Carpet

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