3 x 13 Antique Turkish Oushak Rug 52196

52196 Antique Turkish Oushak Rug Runner, 03'03 x 12'08.

A vivid tableau of Anatolian memory, this hand knotted antique Turkish Oushak runner unfurls like a ceremonial path, where symbols bloom in wool and time hums in color. The composition is anchored by two stately hexagonal medallions, each a world unto itself—rich with stylized vases, florals, amulets, and chandeliers that flicker like sacred lamps. The backdrop—an interplay of midnight black and ember red—evokes both the mystery of the earth and the fire of the hearth. Woven into one medallion, a personal inscription stands like a whisper of the weaver’s hand, bearing the name “Ulviye Çelik,” and the phrase "Bu ne dünya be,” a philosophical musing—“What is this world?”—etched in threads as eternal as thought.

Framing the medallions is a stunning interplay of graphic symmetry and folkloric vitality. Angular vines and blossoms meander through the cartouche border like chants around a shrine, while golden spandrels filled with scrolling vinery and delicate buds mirror the lyrical flow of Ottoman garden poetry. The weaver’s mastery lies in the tension between restraint and exuberance—each motif is precise, yet brimming with expressive energy, drawing the eye in a rhythmic procession from one end of the runner to the other. With its dramatic palette—crimson, saffron, obsidian, brown, ivory—this piece seems lit from within, an inner fire smoldering beneath the woolen surface.

Yet it is not merely visual splendor this Oushak rug offers. In the language of symbols, the central urns and lantern motifs suggest prayers for light and abundance, while the amulets signify protection—a textile talisman meant to bless the corridor it graces. There is a theatricality to its presentation, as though it once lined a ceremonial hall, bearing witness to generations who passed over its mythic forms with both reverence and routine. And the signed medallion becomes more than just a mark; it is a testament to the artist’s spirit, a moment of identity woven into an ocean of anonymity.

In essence, this antique Oushak runner is more than a furnishing; it is a portal. It conjures the intimacy of a Turkish village loom and the grandeur of imperial design. Bold yet poetic, intricate yet grounded, it speaks of inheritance, craftsmanship, and quiet philosophy. Whether placed in a contemporary corridor or a classical setting, it transforms passage into pilgrimage—each step a reminder that beauty, like life, is stitched from meaning as much as from form.

• Rendered in beautiful variegated shades of ruby red, scarlet red, coffee, espresso, black, camel, tan, ecru, beige, sand, gold, saffron, yellow, orange, flaxen, straw, and beige.
• Abrash. Some Age Wear.
• Hand-knotted wool.
• Made in Turkey.
• Measures: 03'03 x 12'08.
• Date: 1920's. Early 20th Century.