Oushak rugs
Soft colors, large open designs and thick, lustrous wool from western Turkey.
Not sure about yours?Upload two photos and get a free report in about 15 seconds.Check my rugWhere they come from
Oushak is the old English spelling of Uşak, a town in western Anatolia. Weavers in the town and the surrounding villages have made carpets there since the early Ottoman period.
The name now covers a style as well as a place. Many rugs sold as Oushak today are woven elsewhere in the same manner.
In Renaissance paintings
Carpets from the Uşak region reached Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries and appear in many paintings of the time. Two designs are still named after painters who showed them: Lotto carpets, after Lorenzo Lotto, and Holbein carpets, after Hans Holbein the Younger.
Other classic types from this period are the Star Ushak and the Medallion Ushak, both named for the shapes in their fields.
The 19th-century Oushak
Western demand grew again in the late 19th century, and workshops in the region wove large, room-size carpets for export. These are the Oushaks most people picture today.
They have large medallions or all-over patterns with plenty of open ground. Typical colors are terracotta, apricot, saffron and gold, with ivory, soft blue and sage green.
How to recognize one
Look for big, loosely drawn motifs, a soft and warm palette, and a thick pile with a natural shine. The knotting is coarse to medium, which suits the large scale of the design.
Turn the rug over. A hand-knotted Oushak shows each knot on the back, with small irregularities, and the fringe is the end of the warp threads.
Quick answers
Why do decorators like Oushak rugs?
Their soft colors and open designs anchor a room without looking busy, so they work in traditional, modern and transitional rooms.
Are all Oushak rugs made in Turkey?
No. Antique Oushaks come from the Uşak region, but new Oushak-style rugs are also woven in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Ask where a rug was made, not only what style it is.
Are Oushak rugs durable?
A well-made Oushak with good wool wears well. The thick pile hides soil and cushions the floor, though older pieces may have areas of low pile from use.
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