Ushak carpet
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Uşak carpets or Ushak carpets are Turkish carpets using a particular family of designs, called by convention after the city of Uşak (pronounced Ushak), Turkey, which was an important carpet-making centre, although these patterns were woven in other regions also.[1] The Ushak types of pattern developed in the 16th century, with some influence from Persian carpets, and have a colour palette based on strong red and blue colours, with freer treatment of the motifs than the earlier Holbein carpet styles; there is often not a straight line in the patterns in the central field, a large change from the earlier angular geometric styles.
They often feature a very large central motif, in the Persian style, which earlier large Turkish carpets did not have. Other large motifs protrude from the outside borders, and are only half shown. These are the "star Ushak" and "medallion Ushak" types, the latter of which appears in the second quarter of the 16th century. Ushak carpets are among the later types of Oriental carpets in Renaissance painting, as they were imported by Europeans, where they adorned cathedrals, churches, and the homes of the wealthy and powerful.[2]
In the European markets, the earlier types of Turkish carpets, before the "star" type, are now often called "Lotto carpets" and "Holbein carpets". The terms make reference to their depiction in minute detail in paintings by Lorenzo Lotto and Hans Holbein the Younger, in which they are often placed in a way to brighten the background, and suggest status.[3] The region of Uşak still remains a vibrant center of hand-made carpet weaving today.
The level of international popularity attained by Uşak's carpets became such that the word "Ushak" is considered an English word of Turkic origin [4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ King & Sylvester, 70 and 73
- ^ King & Sylvester, 70-75
- ^ Other types of rugs were also named after examples seen in paintings, such as Crivelli rugs. See King & Sylvester throughout
- ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged - Ushak A heavy woolen oriental rug tied in Ghiordes knots and characterized by bright primary colors and an elaborate medallion pattern.
[edit] References
- Campbell, Gordon. The Grove Encyclopedia of Decorative Arts, Volume 1, "Carpet, S 2; History(pp. 187-193), Oxford University Press US, 2006, ISBN 0195189485, 9780195189483 Google books
- King, Donald and Sylvester, David eds. The Eastern Carpet in the Western World, From the 15th to the 17th century, Arts Council of Great Britain, London, 1983, ISBN 0728703629
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