These carpets are
made by Yoruk's semi-nomadic tribes who leave near the ocean on the warm
plains during the winter months. The willages are arround Antalya, on the
Mediterranean cost, are the main producing centers of this type of carpets
are made with wool and dyes produced by the nomads themselfs. The
predominant colours are always bright red and dark blue, with a smaller
amount of white. Distinctive patterns in the borders are the sheep's eye
and knife tip and the "hands on hips" motif, an age old symbol denoting
female fertility which dates back to the time when the tribes worshipped
mader goddesses. The field are usually are taken up by a large red double
mihrab, edged in ram's horn motif. Often the shape of the double mihrap is
cut into by two triangles on either side. Ears of grain representing
fertility and carnetions are frequently seen. If there is a tree of life
it's generally made up of carnetions, "the flowers of the people". Some
times one can see a strange motif, a stylized representation of the human
figure which is used to guard against evil. The number of knots in these
carpets are equal to 160,000 knots per square meter.
