MEMLUK DESIGNS AND MEMLUK RUGS

Memluks were the soldiers and administers of the Eyyubid Dynasty which ruled over Egypt and Syria. These former slaves and soldiers with Turkish and Circassian origin first took control over the government and then Egyptian Sultanate(1260). In 1261, Memluks after preventing the Mongolian Invasion, they took over Cairo where they ruled till the Ottoman Conquest. During this period, the Memluks produced rugs with very unusual patterns containing octagons, triangles and vivid colors such as yellows, greens, blues. Woven with an asymmetrical knots, having S spun yarn wool, Memluk Rugs has great medallions the center. During the Ottoman centuries, in addition to Ottoman Flower Pattern Rugs, Memluk style rugs continued to be woven. Memluk rugs of the later periods started having divisions, chessboard pattern and octagons covering the whole ground of the carpet.

OTTOMAN CAIRO FLOWER CARPETS

During the 16th and 17th centuries, Cairo workshops produced rugs with flower patterns, tile designs and patterns borrowed from the book covers. Cairo rugs which were woven with asymmetrical knots are displayed in the various museums of the world.

PARA-MEMLUK RUGS

These rugs which were woven in Cairo, Damascus and Anatolia are easily recognized because of their designs having medallions used in 2 1 2 order. Para Memluk rugs, which are woven by asymmetrical knots and Z spun wool, has red as the main ground color and green, brown, yellow and violet colors as the main colors.