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Late 19th century Oushak
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The city of Oushak has been the most important weaving center in Turkey since at least the glory years of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th through the 17th centuries. During this period, the workshops of Oushak included the royal looms of the Sultan as well as many other workshops producing carpets for the export trade with Europe. Unlike most other areas of the Near East, Oushak remained an active weaving center through the 18th and 19th centuries and continued to weave carpets of great artistic merit into the early 20th century. During this time, the Oushak weavers explored traditional design elements and patterns and often adopted a softer more sophisticated color palette. While this new aesthetic was strongly influenced by European trends and desires – particularly the rising Arts & Crafts movement of England – designers like William Morris were equally influenced by these Oushak carpets. Today Oushak carpets are among the most desirable rugs in the market.
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