The exhibition ‘Art Intertwined with Love: Turkish Carpets’ at the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Works attracts great interest.

The exhibition ‘Art Intertwined with Love: Turkish Carpets’ prepared at the Turkish and Islamic Works Museum received great interest from visitors. A total of 38 historical carpets from the Ottoman and Seljuk periods were presented to enthusiasts at the exhibition.

The events held every four years by ICOC (International Conference on Oriental Carpets) took place in Istanbul this year. The main theme of the 15th symposium and carpet events organized by ICOC this year was determined as ‘The Past and Future of Carpet Weaving and Collecting’. In line with the theme set by the Turkish and Islamic Works Museum, the exhibition ‘Art Intertwined with Love: Turkish Carpets’ was prepared. The exhibition, where 38 carpets from the Ottoman and Seljuk periods meet enthusiasts, will be open until August 23, 2024. Art lovers will be able to visit the exhibition free of charge.

“Among the 38 carpets are Seljuk carpets that have never been exhibited before”

Ekrem Aytar, the Director of the Turkish and Islamic Works Museum, stated, ‘Our museum is the last museum of the Ottoman Empire. It was established in 1914, and this year we celebrate our 111th anniversary. Carpets, manuscripts, wooden works of art with artistic value from all provinces of the Ottoman Empire, mosques, tombs, and dervish lodges were brought to our museum and protected. Between June 6-9, in parallel with the congress organized by ICOC in Istanbul under the theme of the International Conference on Oriental Carpets, we organized an exhibition of 38 carpets from the Ottoman and Seljuk periods. Nearly 200 carpet enthusiasts, academics, and collectors interested in carpets from various countries around the world met at this carpet exhibition. We have around 1,700 carpets in the inventory of our museum. We periodically introduce these carpets to carpet enthusiasts through temporary exhibitions. Among the 38 carpets in our exhibition that coincides with ICOC, there are also Seljuk carpets that have never been exhibited before. Seljuk carpets dating back to the 13th century are truly important for carpet enthusiasts. Additionally, carpets found in foundation works and mosques from different periods of the Ottoman Empire are also included in this exhibition.’