What Is an Oushak Carpet? A Complete Guide Before Buying Oushaks Rugs

Oushak rug is a handmade Turkish carpet dating back to before the 15th century in the Ottoman Empire era. Oushak is derived from Uşak city in Western Turkey. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Oushak carpets were significant Ottoman exports and arose in European paintings.

Oushak carpet has apparent features, making it distinctive from other oriental rugs. Here is a complete guide to all the features of Oushak carpets, with pros and cons and tips before you buy one, plus excellent suggestions that will surprise you.

What Is an Oushak Carpet?

An Oushak carpet has distinctive features in patterns, design, colors, weaving methods, and applications. Here is a brief list of all the features of Oushaks rugs:

• Design: An Oushak Turkish rug is a handmade rectangular carpet with distinct motifs and patterns.
• Motifs: Their distinctive motifs are stars, medallions, and geometric patterns.
• Colors: An antique Oushak carpet primarily includes neutral and warm colors. Some modern types have cool themes, too.
• Weaving Method: Oushaks are mostly woven with Turkish nodes, also known as bilateral or symmetric nodes, which are larger than the nodes of Persian rugs, making them less thick and lighter in weight.
• Applications: Because of their elegance, Oushaks rugs are better for homes rather than offices or commercial spaces.

By knowing these features, you can clearly distinguish an Oushak carpet from other types of rugs and carpets. In the following image, you can see all these features in one Oushaks rug.

Oushak Runner

An Oushak runner is a type of Oushak with a length more extensive than the width. As runner rugs are more contemporary, there are rare antique Oushak rugs in the dimensions of a runner. In other words, most of the Oushak runners are considered to be modern Oushak carpets. Nevertheless, an Oushak runner is a typical runner rug which is woven by methods, designs, and materials of Oushaks rugs, mainly with Turkish carpet weaving artisans' hands.

Oushaks Rugs Pros and Cons

Like every other type of carpet, Oushak rugs have some pros and cons. As your time is money, we have listed them briefly in the following.

Oushaks Rugs Advantages

Here are the advantages, let's call them pros, of Oushak carpet:

• Legacy: Because they are cultural, they have artistic and historical value.
• Being Handmade: Remember, handwoven rugs are always finer than machine-made ones.
• Durability: As Oushaks are handmade and the artisans use enduring threads to weave them, they have a long lifespan, lasting for generations.
• Unique Design: The specific motifs and colors of Oushak carpets make each of them unique and one-of-a-kind.
• Silky Texture: Most Oushak rugs are woven with silky wool, which makes them feel smooth and soft.
• Light Weight: The large nodes mentioned in the previous part of the article construct a lighter carpet in comparison with dense rugs with higher KPSIs (Knot Per Square Inch).

Of course, such a masterpiece has more edges. So, add them in the comments for us and the other readers.

Oushak Carpet Disadvantages

Like all products, Oushak carpets have their specific weaknesses. Here are the cons in brief:

• High Price: You may first be surprised by the cost of an Oushak carpet. Though, they are worth their prices.
• Being Rarely Available: As they are only one style among numerous types of vintage rugs, Oushaks rugs are not readily available worldwide.
• Low Colorfastness: They are being dyed with 100% natural tints, so you should preserve them from direct sunlight.
• Intricate Upkeep: They need meticulous maintenance, including routine cleaning, to maintain their look and longevity.
• Attracting Dust: Not only the Oushak carpet but also most of the other models of wool rugs have the potential to draw dust; consequently, they require regular cleaning.

If you have the experience, can you quote some other drawbacks of Oushak carpets in your comments?

Tips Before Buying an Oushak Carpet

An Oushak carpet would be an excellent choice if you want to buy an elegant rug. Nevertheless, before purchasing any item, it is better to get well-informed about it and know the essential tips. Here are the most critical five tips before buying an Oushak rug:

1. Only shop from reliable retailers whose selling procedure is transparent.
2. Try finding sellers who sell directly from the producers, without dealers in the middle of your transaction.
3. Ask the vendor about the exact raw materials and make sure that you and your family members aren't allergic to them.
4. Measure your room size and determine the dimensions that suit the space. For example, a 9×12 Oushak is suitable for the living room but not for small bedrooms.
5. Consider a place for the rug away from direct sunlight.

And like their pros and cons, please add some tips as observations from you.

CyrusCrafts Last Statements About Oushak Rugs

In this article, you get entirely familiar with the Turkish rug, the Oushak carpet. You reviewed all its features and characteristics, pros & cons, and tips before buying an Oushak rug. CyrusCrafts hopes you enjoy this post and invites you to ask any potential questions by leaving a comment or sending a text message on WhatsApp.
CyrusCrafts is an international market of luxurious and unique products, from interior design elements to clothing and style accessories. Here, you can find Persian carpets, handmade or modern furniture, decorative items, etc. The only thing you should do to have them delivered to your address, wherever you live in the world, is to select your desired item and fill out its order form.