TURKISH CARPET WEAVING FROM THE 16TH CENTURY TO THE 20TH CENTURY IN THE CONTEXT OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN SOURCES

Abstract

In this research, Ottoman carpet making has been interpreted in the light of domestic and foreign sources. Particularly, the books of the people of hiref, the provisions, the treasury counting books preserved in the Topkapi Palace Archive have been the main sources used. In addition, narh registers, customs tariff books, foreign travelers and their drawings, and what local travelers saw and told, are important bases for the writing of this article. Researches on Ottoman industry and economy, participation in international exhibitions and information obtained from exhibition catalogs are the reference sources of this research.
Based on these sources, it was seen that Bergama and Menemen at the beginning of the 16th century, and after the middle of the 16th century, Uşak and its surroundings became an important carpet center. Until the 19th century, carpet weaving in and around Uşak continued, preserving its traditional feature. However, Western traders settled in the region and started trading by giving orders to the people of the region. Later, with the partnership of six Levanten families, The Amalgamated Oriental Carpet Manufactures a wide trade network was organized by establishing a company. With this organization, regional carpets were intervened; It was understood that the pattern, color and dimensions were changed and the identity was lost.
Finally, the establishment of Hereke and Feshane factories and Hereke carpets are discussed in order to develop the weaving of the Palace. Hereke carpet masters became known in the West by opening workshops in Kumkapı and weaving carpets similar to Hereke production, selling them abroad and going as gifts. The palace carpets group became known in the West as the Salting group, when a collector named G. Salting donated his collection of these carpets to a museum. Thus, the Topkapı Palace carpet group, Hereke and Kumkapı carpets are evaluated together with the Salting group. Arkas group Kumkapı carpets, which collect the latest examples of Kumkapı carpets and form a collection, are included in this ring. In our research, this issue is also mentioned and the latest situation of Turkish carpet making and collecting has been revealed.