Sivas Jail Carpet 'Signed No.153'

Sivas ' Jail ' Carpet / Turkey
.Size :2.08m x 1.33m 
Wool on cotton
Age 50 yrs approx
Signed n0 .153 _ this could have been either the number of the loom that was used or the weavers inmate number .
Excellent condition - washed and ready to use
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The central Anatolian region of Sivas was always a large centre for workshop rug production since the 19th century and surrounding villages also produced smaller prayer rugs. During the 19th century a number of reforms were put in place to improve the conditions and organisations of prisons in the Ottoman Empire. The rehabilitaion reforms recommended the establishment of teaching programs within the facilities and organising workshops in which inmates were trained in sewing weaving and carpet weaving.The idea was that prisoners would work for the duration of their sentence and would be paid for the employment. The money would go towards the prisoner’s upkeep, a part to the state treasury and the remaining amount held in keep for the inmate.
Sivas Jail carpets followed the more detailed Hereke palace carpet traditions and patterns using good quality wools and classically derived all-over patterns designs.These rugs favour softer colour tones with an emphasis on warm earth tones and pastel colouration..The very limited number of Sivas Prison or Jail carpets on the market today date from the mid-20th century and the design can include an identifying signature and serial number in the outer borders. As finely woven examples, Sivas rugs are highly regarded decorative rugs. The production of these rugs started in 1949 and stopped in in the mid 1980'sOther prisons such as those in Erzincan, Elagzi followed the Sivas example and also hand produced excellent decorative rugs for sale