Bünyan Hand-Woven Carpet (Bünyan El Halısı) is a type of carpet woven using traditional methods in the Bünyan district of Kayseri province and registered with a "designation of origin". As one of the important representatives of the carpet weaving tradition in Turkey, the Bünyan carpet stands out with its technical characteristics, cultural origin, and unique pattern structure. In Bünyan, carpet weaving is kept alive both as an economic activity and a cultural heritage.

History

The origins of Bünyan carpet weaving are based on the weaving tradition that Turks carried from Central Asia to Anatolia. When place names in the region are examined, traces belonging to the Cuman (Kipchak), Khazar, Saka, and Oghuz (Uz) Turks are found, which shows that carpet weaving has continued its existence since very ancient times. The word 'halı' (carpet) appears as 'kalı' or 'kalıng' in Divanü Lügati't-Türk, and this word is used today in the Bünyan region in the form of 'kalın' meaning dowry. Traditionally, the carpets included in a marrying girl's dowry are called 'kalın', and this concept reflects a deep cultural relationship with the carpet.

Technical Specifications

Bünyan Hand-Woven Carpet is woven with the double knot technique. The pile height varies between 5-6 mm, and there are approximately 1,512 knots per dm². For the pile yarn, 2/1 wool is used; for the warp yarn, 20/21 gauge cotton; for the thick weft, 6/5 cotton; and for the thin weft, 6/4 cotton yarn is used. Total material consumption is around 5150 g/m². A quality standard of 36x42 is generally applied to the carpets. These carpets, whose warp is made of cotton yarn, are woven with the Gördes knot and are durable and long-lasting due to their high weaving density.

^{Bünyan Halısı (Anadolu Ajansı)}

Production Process and Prevalence

In Bünyan, carpet weaving is widely carried out in homes. Until the year 2000, there was a carpet loom in almost every house in the district, and a significant part of the population earned their living from this craft. However, a decrease in production has been observed due to rural-to-urban migration and economic reasons. Women weaving carpets can complete a 6-square-meter carpet in about a month, after which they take a rest period of a few weeks. The yarns required for the carpets are sourced from Uşak, dyed in Kayseri, and the weaving process is carried out in Bünyan, from where they are shipped to domestic trade centers via Kayseri.

^{Carpet Production Process (Anadolu Ajansı)}

Motifs and Patterns

In Bünyan carpets, the field consists of two parts: the outer section containing the border and columns, and the inner space. Aesthetic harmony is achieved in both parts. The borders used in the carpets vary between three and eight rows depending on regional characteristics. Motif arrangements are created with striped, transitional, centrally gathered, or repetitive systems.

Motif types are grouped into three categories:

Floral motifs: Small floral (calico-like, empirme), large floral (almond-shaped, farahan)

Geometric motifs: Kazak, Shirvan, Bukhara, Ladik

Medallion motifs: Kazan, Lalezar, Hayali Üzümlü (Imaginary Grape)

In these carpets, the number of knots per 1 cm² varies between 16–30, and the knot density directly affects the quality. As the carpet yarn gets thinner (e.g., between 2.5–3.75 Nm), the warp yarn used is also selected accordingly (e.g., 20 Nm or 30 Nm).

Size and Types

Bünyan carpets are generally woven in standard proportions. The length is determined to be approximately 1.5 times the width. Some of the carpet types, named differently according to their area of use, are as follows:

Yastık (Pillow): 60 x 90 cm

Arşın Çeyrek: 90 x 130 cm

Seccade (Prayer Rug - 500'lük): 120 x 180 cm

Karyola (Bedside - 600'lük): 120 x 225 cm

Kelle (700'lük): 2 x 3 m

Taban Halısı (Floor Carpet): 6–12 m²

Economic and Socio-Cultural Importance

Bünyan carpet weaving is an important area in the region where women's labor is transformed into production. Carpet weavers start working at the loom from a young age, both contributing to the family economy and keeping a traditional art alive. Bünyan Hand-Woven Carpet, which was one of the foreign currency-earning export items until the 1990s, is also a well-known product in the foreign market.

Registration and Inspection

Bünyan Hand-Woven Carpet was announced in the Official Gazette on 01.09.1996 and was registered on 14.11.1997 as geographical indication number 5 with a designation of origin. The registration holder is Bünyan Municipality, and the product's compliance with technical specifications is inspected by the relevant directorates and the quality control commission at both the production and marketing stages.