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Shepard and his flock in Central Anatolia. These sheep are tended to in the same villages where the carpets are woven. The whole process of carpet making is an essential part of the cultural life and economy of these places. |
Women in Central Anatolia using a drop spindle to spin yarn. We use only handspun wool in our carpets. It is both stronger and has a more varied feel in the way it picks up dye than machine spun wool. It is also used in this raw state for the white in the carpet designs. |
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.Central Anatolian village landscape |
Cooperative weaving workshop |
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Ibrahim, Production Director, and Mustafa, Master Dyer, working on yarn colors. We use only natural dyestuffs in our carpets. These dyes have been proven over centuries, are stable and chromatically harmonious with each other, and mellow subtly with age. |
Muhammad, Mustafa's son is learning his father's craft. |
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Naturally dyed yarns--an incredible richness of color is achievable with natural dyes. Here we see a yellow made with weld, a madder red, four indigo blues, undyed white and naturally black sheep's wool. |
After extensive study of the relevant antique carpet precedents precise cartoons are prepared for the weavers. Clients can also commission carpets, specifying sizes, colors and pattern details. |
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Carpet fragments, called "vagirehs", are made first, to test the balance of color and design. Here Mustafa, Master Dyer, Ibrahim, Production Director, and Mustafa, Weaving Workshop Manager, examine a Medallion Ushak vagireh. |
Weaver working on Star Ushak carpet. All the master weavers are adult women working in jointly owned and managed cooperative workshops. The carpet are signed by the weavers who work on them--they take great pride in their work. |
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Weavers in cooperative workshop in Central Anatolia |
Weavers in cooperative workshop in Central Anatolia |
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Lotto carpet on loom showing cartoon, yarns and colored warps |
Holbein carpet on loom showing cartoon, yarns and colored warps |
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Star Ushak carpet on loom showing cartoon, yarns and colored warps |
Mustafa preparing to wash a Star Ushak |
