8.7 x 10.8 Antique Turkish Oushak Carpet, Circa 1900
Oushak is a city in western Turkey with a long tradition of carpet weaving. During the late 19th century, Oushak carpets generally had soft but still beautiful colors. In recent years, many Oushak carpets of more recent vintage have had heavy chemical washes referred to as an “antique wash” applied to them. This process badly degrades the structure of a carpet, even while making it aesthetically in-line with what the current decorative market might want. The process also arguably leaves chemical residue.
Earlier Oushak carpets, such as the one featured here which dates to circa 1900 or perhaps a bit earlier, might have received a wash of sorts when new to soften the colors. This was sometimes done with Tabriz carpets from northwest Persia. These washes, if they were done, appear to be different to more recent “antique washes”.
Part of the appeal of the more authentic, older Oushak carpets, as opposed to those woven in the 1930s or 1940s and then given heavy chemical washes that make the colors very pale, is that they tend to retain a warm and cheerful palette that almost no other antique carpets have. Antique Persian Sultanabad and Bakshaish carpets perhaps come closest but even those tend to have a different character.
The earlier Oushak carpets, such as this one, tend to have soft wool and are often fairly coarsely woven, so while this carpet is in very good general condition for the age and type, it is best suited for an area that receives light traffic.
Pile generally thin, with rewoven and/or repiled areas and other restoration.
Price: $ 24,000
Please, call Helen or Douglas at (781) 205-9817 for additional information.
