Rug Encyclopedia · Turkish Rugs
A Turkish rug is an oriental rug hand-knotted in Anatolia — the land of the symmetrical Turkish knot, the classical Ushak, and centuries of village and nomadic weaving. Soft, large-scale and endlessly liveable, Turkish rugs are the decorator’s oriental rug.
What is a Turkish rug?
A Turkish rug is a rug hand-knotted in Anatolia (modern Turkey) using the symmetrical (Turkish, or Ghiordes) knot — the knot that gives Turkish rugs their sturdy, graphic character. Turkey is one of the oldest weaving lands on earth, home to the classical court carpets of the Ottoman age and to centuries of village and nomadic weaving. Today many Turkish designs, above all the Oushak, are also hand-knotted in Afghanistan and Pakistan for the Western market.
The Turkish rugs we carry
- Oushak — the celebrated west-Anatolian tradition: large-scale, softly drawn medallions and florals in muted, decorator-friendly palettes. The heart of our Turkish offering.
- Kilim — the flatwoven (pileless) tradition of Anatolia and beyond: bold, graphic, reversible, full of tribal symbolism.
Shop the Oushak collection, or browse the full rug encyclopedia.
The Turkish knot & the look
The symmetrical Turkish knot wraps around two warp threads, producing a durable, slightly more geometric line than the Persian knot. Turkish rugs favour large-scale, open drawing — star and medallion Ushaks, prayer niches, stylised florals — in soft golds, terracotta, soft blue and ivory. Learn more in our how a rug is made guide.
Hand-knotted vs machine-made — labeled honestly
A genuine Turkish rug is hand-knotted, one knot at a time. Machine-made rugs can copy a Turkish design but are not hand-knotted, not one-of-a-kind, and do not wear or age the same way. At Arteverk hand-knotted rugs are the heart of what we do; any power-loomed piece is labeled plainly, and the Construction field on each product page states which it is.
How to choose a Turkish rug
Turkish rugs — especially Oushaks — suit transitional and modern interiors beautifully thanks to their soft palette and open drawing. Choose your size first (see the rug size guide; we carry up to oversize and palace, 12'×15' and larger), then a palette that works with your walls.
- Real makers & curators. The Malik family — third-generation weavers and curators who commission, curate and restore hand-knotted rugs.
- The exact piece you see. Every hand-knotted rug is photographed as the single, one-of-a-kind rug you’ll receive.
- Honest labeling. Design tradition vs country of weaving stated plainly; any power-loomed piece labeled as such.
Find your Turkish rug
Browse our hand-knotted Oushak and Turkish rugs, or tell us your size and colors and we’ll hand-pick a few one-of-a-kind pieces for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Turkish rug?
A Turkish rug is an oriental rug hand-knotted in Anatolia (Turkey) using the symmetrical Turkish knot. The best-known type is the Oushak; today many Turkish designs are also woven in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
What is the difference between a Turkish and a Persian rug?
Both are oriental rugs, but Turkish rugs use the symmetrical Turkish knot and favour bolder, larger-scale geometry, while Persian rugs use the asymmetrical Persian knot for finer curvilinear florals.
Are Oushak rugs Turkish?
Yes. Oushak (Ushak) is a town in western Anatolia, Turkey. Oushak-design rugs are also hand-knotted today in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Are Turkish rugs hand-knotted?
Genuine Turkish rugs are hand-knotted. At Arteverk hand-knotted rugs are the focus and any power-loomed piece is clearly labeled.
What size Turkish rug do I need?
Match the rug to the room so it anchors the furniture, usually 8x10 or larger for a living room. Arteverk carries sizes up to oversize and palace pieces of 12x15 and larger.