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Turkish Rugs the O'Connell Guide

Turkish Rugs: Notes on Turkish Yastiks

Anatolian and Turkish Yastiks

A yastik is a small rug or bag for sitting against or leaning against. It can also be a cover. If it is to sit upon it is a minder or masnad. I never paid a great deal of attention to them until my dear friend Harold Keshishian showed me some examples from his collection.

The best and the oldest are invariably utilitarian and show wear. HK also mentioned that the oldest that he has seen dates to about 1850.

Saturday at Keshishian's An Old Yastik sort of 25th of February 2006

The Vance N. Jordan Kirsehir Yastik Mid 19th century

Yastiks

From www.SpongoBongo.com

The Kearney Collection Central Anatolian Yastik Mid 19th century

Brian Morehouse's Yastiks-Cushion Covers and Storage Bags of Anatolia

Minder

A minder or Minder-Yastik as they are sometimes called, is a small cushion or cushion cover for one to sit upon.

From www.SpongoBongo.com

Sotheby's Ottoman voided velvet and metal-thread (çatma) cushion covers (minder) 18th C. lot 335

Sotheby's Ottoman voided velvet and metal-thread (çatma) cushion covers (minder) 18th C. lot 335

"Catma is a kind of velvet fabric with a double ground and raised design. In the 16th century the fame of Bursa catmas spread far beyond the confines of the Empire, Although a very costly fabric, it was in great demand in foreign markets and was one of Bursa’s most important exports. It was also very popular on the domestic market and occupied an important place among the gifts presented to foreign heads of state by envoys and ambassadors. This is the reason for the large number of catma cushion covers in European and American museums." The Art Of Turkish Textiles

For Further reading:

Notes on Turkish Yastiks

So Close and Yet ... : A Yastik Adventure by R. John Howe

Harold and Melissa Keshishian's

See my older guide: