Historic prayer rugs preserved in Ottoman palace collections are being readied for public display after specialists completed conservation work on six pieces belonging to Topkapi Palace, including examples woven in the 16th century under the Safavids.
The work was carried out at the National Palaces Carpet Restoration and Conservation Workshop at the Yildiz Sale complex in Istanbul’s Besiktas district, where an eight-member team worked on handwoven carpets from Topkapi, Dolmabahce, Beylerbeyi and Yildiz palaces, as well as other imperial pavilions and mansions.
Sadi Ozturk, a carpet repair specialist at the workshop, said three of the six Topkapi prayer rugs were woven in Safavid territories during the 16th century and later presented to the Ottoman palace as gifts.
A restoration specialist works on a historic carpet as conservation efforts continue on textiles from Türkiye’s imperial palace collections. (AA Photo)
Safavid rugs preserve religious inscriptions from 16th century
The Safavid prayer rugs stand out for their inscriptions, which include verses from several chapters of the Quran as well as other religious expressions.
Ozturk said the inscriptions include verses from Al-Baqarah, An-Nur and Al-Fath, while the name Ali appears repeatedly. One piece also carries the Shiite declaration of faith, while another includes the Islamic profession of monotheism.
He described the rugs as highly accomplished works in terms of workmanship, weaving and color, adding that their survival despite their delicate structure makes their preservation particularly significant.
Another piece in the group was woven in Bergama in the 16th century and is identified as a “keyhole” prayer rug, a term referring to the distinctive form of its lower design.
Ozturk said the design also appeared in works by several painters during the Renaissance period.
Specialists work on historic carpets and prayer rugs at the National Palaces Carpet Restoration and Conservation Workshop in Istanbul, Türkiye. (AA Photo)
6 Topkapi pieces mounted on special exhibition panels
Conservation work on all six Topkapi Palace prayer rugs has now been completed, with the pieces attached to specially prepared panels for display.
Two additional silk carpets have also undergone conservation and are due to be exhibited at Yildiz Palace.
“These two silk carpets will also be exhibited at Yildiz Palace. The conservation processes of these six works and the other two works at Yildiz Palace have been completed. Our six works have been sewn onto panels for Topkapi Palace,” Ozturk said.
The final exhibition locations will be determined as part of museum planning, after which the pieces will be sent back to the palaces to which they belong.
A close-up shows conservation work being carried out on the edge of a historic woven carpet. (AA Photo)
Conservation protects surviving fabric
Before any work begins, specialists assess each textile to determine whether it requires conservation or full restoration.
Conservation is used for more fragile works and focuses on stabilizing what remains without reconstructing missing sections.
“Because the strength and durability of these works are lower, we carry out conservation. There is absolutely no completion process on them. The existing work is preserved and protected,” Ozturk said.
Restoration, by contrast, can involve rebuilding damaged or missing sections in line with the original weave.
Specialists identify suitable threads, reproduce the original colors through dyeing, and reconstruct missing warp and weft threads and knots. Warp and weft are the two sets of threads that form the structural foundation of a woven textile.
Once restoration is completed, the carpets are returned to their respective palaces and prepared for display in appropriate rooms.
A specialist works on a historic carpet using traditional materials and techniques at the National Palaces restoration workshop. (AA Photo)
Large carpets take more than one year to restore
The workshop is also carrying out work on historic carpets from Dolmabahce, Beylerbeyi and Yildiz palaces, including a Gordes carpet and a shawl-patterned carpet from Dolmabahce Palace.
Because some palace carpets are much larger than prayer rugs, restoration can take considerably longer.
Ozturk said completing missing ends, edges and central areas through the reconstruction of warp, weft and knots can take around one to one-and-a-half years depending on the size of the piece.
The National Palaces Carpet Restoration and Conservation Workshop was established in 2007 at the Hereke Silk Weaving and Carpet Factory before moving to the Yildiz Sale complex in 2011.
Its work continues to focus on preserving historic textiles from Ottoman palace collections while maintaining their original structure for future generations.
September 08, 2026 06:04 AM GMT+03:00