Sivas ' Jail' Carpet

Sivas Jail Carpet /Turkey
Size:2.07mx 1.32 m
Wool on cotton 
Age Signed and Dated 25/11 / 1983
Excellent condition - washed and ready to use 
Unusal pattern and colours 
Free International Shipping 
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 carpetss followed themore 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's
Other prisons such as those in Erzincan, Elagzi followed the Sivas example and also hand produced excellent decorative rugs for sale.