276... 64... 322,654... 5,341... 29 E 25 - 38 N 41...

Usak... The historical background of Usak, one of the beautiful cities of the Eastern Aegean Region of the Republic of Türkiye, goes back to 5000 BC. This province, is situated at the inner side of Western Anatolia. Being closer to the central region, rather than the Aegean, a typical continental climate prevails in the area. The most distinct characteristic of the city is its location, constituting a pathway between four different regions of Türkiye, namely the Marmara, Aegean, Central Anatolian and the Mediterranean regions. As such a binding point, the province witnessed the earliest civilizations which have passed by, and left their signs in every corner of the land. From the Lydians to the Persians, from the Romans to the Ottomans, Usak had been ruled by many invaders, and the remains of those ancient times are found in various districts. There is an archaeological museum in the province, which holds the finds from the area, and is worth a visit for those who are interested. Usak, lovely city which is one of the beautiful cities of the Eastern Aegean Region of the Republic of Türkiye, is an important and lively weaving center. High quality cotton cloth and bed sheets are widely produced in the various towns; and the carpets and kilims traditionally woven here are world famous, with their many colors and beautiful motifs. There are also picnicking areas and thermal centers in the region. The Usak region represents the most important area in the history of the production of carpets not only in Anatolia, but of the whole world. In this article we shall try to identify the main characteristics which Usak carpets have had throughout the ages. Although unique characteristics are to be found in each period, these carpets all share the following features (wool warp, wool web, wool knot, and Turkish knot) given below : Wool warp: The warps of Usak carpets are always produced from best quality Anatolian wool. The warps in some carpets are dyed in the same colour as the base. Cotton or other materials are never used. Wool web: The webbing is made of single or double-strand thread. As compared to the warp it is less tightly spun. The web threads are usually dyed, and unlike other Anatolian carpets, they are triple dyed. Wool knot: Only the softest Anatolian wool is used in the knotting, whose threads are produced with the least amount of spinning possible. Carpets are usually double knotted, and sometimes triple - knotted. Turkish knot: The traditional Anatolian Turkish knotting is always used in Usak carpets.