Nomad Turkish Carpet Art by Archaeologous
We are pleased to offer two villages in Turkey where you can witness the ongoing live creation process of the famed hand woven 'carpet art'. Hali Village is in the Kusadasi area only 5 minutes from Ephesus and the other is Etrim Village, in the Bodrum area. Put these locations into your itinerary and you will be seeing some of the best of Turkey.
It is believed the nomadic tribes of Turkey were the founders of carpet making and thus, you are getting a real insight into history. What makes Turkish carpets so special is the hand made double knotted pieces with cut pile. They are still made in the traditional manner of hand knotting on a loom, with natural dyes and materials.
In the past, Sultans gave exquisite carpets as gifts to European royalty. Today carpets are still used as wall and floor coverings in tents and homes. Every pattern and symbol upon a carpet has a meaning or tells a story. Pieces often reflect the hopes and desires of the women who created the carpet. The designs themselves, are handed down from mother to daughter over hundreds of years.
Entire villages of women collect together to prepare the materialsas it is traditionally women who make the carpets. The material is hand spun by the local women and then dyed with local plants i.e. walnut shells, pomegranate, which have been boiled in huge kettles to create the dye. The textile is then dried naturally on lines in the sun, it is then ready to be transformed into the beautiful carpets and kilims we treasure today.
More useful info: What to do in trendy Istanbul http://www.archaeologous.com/blog/235/cool-trendy-istanbul-by-archaeologous/
Fun facts about Turkey: http://www.archaeologous.com/blog/60/interesting-facts-about-turkey-by-archaeolous/
