‘Evil Eye’ Talismanic Mohair Rug, Turkey (c. 1920)

This antique rug is a talisman, hand-woven of silky looped mohair in the form of an ‘evil eye’ motif brandished to ward off malevolent and envious glances.

The rug has a simple but powerful composition: At its center, a pistachio green ‘evil eye’ medallion (nazar) floats on a honey-colored field of undyed mohair. This is surrounded by a wide border in deep, inky blue indigo.

Natural Dyes, Artisanal Processes

The visual simplicity of the composition belies the skilled work of its making. The intensely rich blue dye is derived from natural indigo. The yarn must be dyed in multiple baths to achieve a consistent depth of this richness. In most cases, weavers concede to the constraints of cost and practicality, and use accept blue tones that can be achieved more cheaply. The weaver of this rug made no such compromise. The green at the center of the eye motif is an early chemical dye, likely chosen because it produced an intense hue of the kind favored by village weavers.    

The rug’s construction is also remarkable. This style of looped pile rug is known as a çekme (CHECK-may). Its face is woven of small, tightly wound loops. To create the pile at a consistent height, the weaver loops bunches of untwisted mohair over a guide rod as she progresses up the rug.

The çekme style of weaving and the use of mohair are common features of rugs made in Konya Province, in south central Turkey. In addition to the angora goats that give mohair fiber, the region is home to Sufi lodges, and the mystics and seekers who flock to the area are best known to the outside world as the ‘whirling dervishes’. Their ecstatic (and public) religious devotions remain popular attractions among visitors to Turkey.

This antique rug expresses a sincere spiritualism that is comparatively private, though no less striking. Woven by a village weaver, it is likely that the piece survived in pristine condition through careful preservation on a wall.

Condition and Use

This rug is in excellent antique condition. Several loops have broken, leaving long strands that can be directed back into the pile, or trimmed to length. The rug’s kilim ends are original and in good condition.

This rug will withstand use on the floor, in low-traffic areas, particularly if supported by a rug pad to prevent slipping. Some breakage and snagging of the mohair loops can be expected. It will provide many years of dutiful service if used on a wall or as a decorative throw.