ÇANAKKALE RUGS

The history of Çanakkale Rugs starts with the Turkish nomads (yoruk) coming from the Middle East, Caucasians and settling in mountain villages leading a semi-nomadic life and preserving their old traditions, customs and habits.

Rugs in the Çanakkale area are woven in the Turkish knot on vertical weaving looms. They are of a loose texture and therefore, a coarse appearance. The number of knots per dm² is 672 (24x28). 

The material used for these rugs is wool. The people of the area obtain the rug yarn from their own sheep and dye these themselves via various inherited techniques. The main colours are red, dark blue and white. In addition, the colours yellow, green and camel’s hair are also used. 

The few basic motifs distinguishing Çanakkale rugs in the Turkish carpet art have been applied with a great extent of consistency. Specifically octagonal stars have been used in all Çanakkale rugs.

Another element lending originality to Çanakkale rugs is the side borders. Çanakkale rugs are completely formed with geometric patterns . Octagons, hexagons, diamonds, broken-horizontal lines, hooks, anchors, triangles and starts define the generic patterns. 

Rugs woven in various counties and villages of Çanakkale represent the characteristics of an area as a whole.

The counties and villages do not have specific patterns of their own. The region presents a unity in patterns altogether. 

Çanakkale rugs are divided into eight groups according to their patterns.   

1-Golden Plate Rug:
Woven with a geometric medallion called ‘plate’ with average size of 2.40x3.50 m. The main motifs of the rug are a central medallion, four small medallions at four edges and medallions shaped in deformed triangles at edges and complete triangles at two short sides.

2-Turnali (crane) Rug:
1.60x2.50 m in average size. This name is given due to the flying birds included in the inner pattern.

3-Double-Frontal Rug:
Used as prayer rugs and ground rugs. The rug is defined by a pair of frontals.

4-Single-Frontal Rug:
Woven in the size of prayer rugs. The inner pattern includes a frontal niche.

5-Medallion Rug:
1.50x2.80 m in average size. A curvaceous medallion in the inner pattern defines the rug.

6-Rug with two Rectangles with Crooked Motifs:
Woven as prayer and hall rugs. Two crooked motifs in two rectangles define the rug.

7-Cartridge Rug: Woven in the size of prayer rugs. Cartridges lined vertically in the inner pattern define the rug.

8-Tree of Life Rug: Woven in the size of prayer rugs. A tree of life is included in the rectangular inner pattern.

Çanakkale rugs with ‘turnali’ and ‘saribaş’ patterns dating back to the 17th Century are displayed in the rich carpet collection of Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts and are still traditionally produced.

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