PREFACE

Precious handmade carpets are the products of long months of labour, requiring great skill and patience. Besides being utilitarian objects, they are a source of pleasure to their owners. A beautiful carpet is like a fine painting; it pleases the eye. It is also an investment which will retain its value as the years pass.

Contemporary Turkish carpets are made by local experts Who use materials and designs characteristic of the region in which they work. After a quality inspection and a first washing, these carpets enter the domestic and foreign markets through well known dealers.

The second half of the 20th century is another golden era of Turkish handmade carpet production, due to the making of high quality carpets displaying new designs, and it coincides with the period when Turkey is a popular holiday destination with tourists. In the main centres of tourism and along the roads connecting them, many carpet stores, production and sales centres have been established. Original handmade carpets, sold where they are produced, have become very popular with customers. Famous companies that offer a great, variety of carpets of different sizes and designs, with a guarantee of authenticity , are contributing to the increase in carpet sales. Handmade Turkish carpets are one of the main export items of Turkey and they are shipped all over the world.

This gallery is an illustrated guide to contemporary Turkish carpets, region by region.