14.06.2026 11:30
In Aydın, the priceless Milas Karaova carpet and the Fethiye Kaya prayer rug are only taken out of the safe and displayed when special visitors come, as they cannot be brought to be laid on the floor.
The Erdemoğlu Family, who have been involved in carpet weaving in Aydın for half a century, preserve some carpets featuring motifs from Anatolia that are on the verge of being forgotten, in order to pass them on to future generations. These century-old carpets, too precious to be walked on and carefully stored due to their immense value, are taken out and displayed when special visitors come.
Yunus Emre Erdem, stating that they inherited the profession from his late father Ahmet Erdem and have been continuing this work for half a century, also mentioned that they preserve some carpets, which they see as an important cultural heritage, to pass them on to future generations.
"OLD CARPETS ARE THE WORK OF A CULTURE, NEW CARPETS ARE THE WORK OF MACHINES" Yunus Emre Erdem, noting that carpet and rug motifs in Anatolia are also works of culture, but industrial carpets no longer retain cultural characteristics, stated that the value of old carpets is now immeasurable by money.
Erdem, who pointed out that the Aegean Region has an important cultural history in the carpet and rug sector as in every industry, introduced the Milas Karaova carpet and the Fethiye Kaya prayer rug, which are the last examples of their kind and have a history of at least two centuries.
"WE DON'T SELL THEM EVEN THOUGH HIGH SUMS ARE OFFERED"
Yunus Emre Erdem, noting that the traditional and cultural Turkish carpet and rug weaving sector, like many professions in Turkey, is nearing the end of its life, said, "We inherited this work from our late father Ahmet Erdem and have been doing it for over half a century. We keep some carpets in our hands to keep this important culture alive. One of these is a special carpet known as the Milas Karaova carpet, which is known to have been woven in Bodrum two centuries ago. We bought this carpet from a customer years ago and added it to our collection. Since the carpet was never used on the floor but hung on the wall, it has not lost its original features. The pattern and integrity of the carpet remain intact. It is one of the rarest examples of its kind. We don't sell it even though quite high amounts are offered. In addition, we have another carpet known as the Fethiye Kaya prayer rug, woven in the same period. It has some deformation because it was used as a prayer rug at the time, but it still preserves its two-century-old features."
Erdem, stating that they do not sell the carpets of fortune value solely due to their love for carpets and dedication to this culture, mentioned that they take out and display the carpets, which are too precious to be stepped on and whose spiritual value is immeasurable, when special visitors come.