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These carpets are made by Yoruk's semi-nomadic tribes who leave near the ocean on the warm plains during the winter months. The willages are arround Antalya, on the Mediterranean cost, are the main producing centers of this type of carpets are made with wool and dyes produced by the nomads themselfs. The predominant colours are always bright red and dark blue, with a smaller amount of white. Distinctive patterns in the borders are the sheep's eye and knife tip and the "hands on hips" motif, an age old symbol denoting female fertility which dates back to the time when the tribes worshipped mader goddesses. The field are usually are taken up by a large red double mihrab, edged in ram's horn motif. Often the shape of the double mihrap is cut into by two triangles on either side. Ears of grain representing fertility and carnetions are frequently seen. If there is a tree of life it's generally made up of carnetions, "the flowers of the people". Some times one can see a strange motif, a stylized representation of the human figure which is used to guard against evil. The number of knots in these carpets are equal to 160,000 knots per square meter. |