Oriental Rugs Dictionary
Kum Kapou
Kum Kapou refers to a group of workshop-produced rugs from Anatolia, often associated with urban weaving centers.
These carpets typically display more refined designs and finer weaving techniques compared to village rugs, reflecting organized workshop production.
Kum Kapou rugs represent the transition from tribal weaving to more structured commercial carpet production.
Kum Kapou works are one of the finest Turkish works available. These rugs were woven by Armenians, who have moved from Kayseri at the end of 19 Century, in Istanbul and the quality was a direct competition with the finest Hereke rugs.
Kum Kapou (literally Sand Gate) was the name of the Armenian quarter of Istanbul at the end of the 19th century. In the rug workshops which lined the narrow streets, young women used pure silk and precious metal thread to hand weave rugs of the finest quality, under the supervision of master weavers.
Some of these works were attributed to Safavid by Error because of the use of metallic threads and the weaving techniques.
