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Turkey
Turkey is located in Southwest Asia. Turkey is bordered by Bulgaria and Greece on the northwest; Black Sea on the north; Georgia and Armenia on the northeast; Iran on the east; Iraq, Syria and the Mediterranean Sea on the south; and Aegean Sea on the west. Turkey covers an area of 779, 452 sq km (300,948 sq mi) with a population of approximately 65 million. Turkey's capital is Ankara.
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The earliest Anatolian (Turkish) handmade rugs date back to the thirteenth century. Many examples of Anatolian rugs can be seen in European paintings from 1350 to 1450. Rugs have been woven in Turkey for at least as long as they have been in Iran. |
| Rugs produced today are generally very beautiful and high quality. In the late 1970s the government began a program to improve the quality and profitability of the rug industry. The program reintroduced the use of natural dyes and traditional weaving methods. Thus, DOBAG (a Turkish acronym meaning Natural Dye Research and Development Project) was created. Turkey produces a wide variety of village and workshop rugs particularly in Hereke, which also produces one of the best silk rugs in the world and, to a lesser extent, in Kayseria. |
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Anatolian rugs are sometimes woven with traditional designs and colors and sometimes for the Western market and taste.
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Even though Turkey does not export nearly as many rugs as Iran, India or China, it is still considered a large exporter of handmade rugs. Market sizing data from the exporting countries is difficult to obtain, as some of the countries may not track the data or disclose it. Nevertheless, from foreign embassies, industry specialists, and magazine articles, the 1998 rug export estimate for Turkey is 150 million dollars. |
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