Döşemealtı El Halısı

Döşemealtı Hand-Knotted Carpet is a type of carpet rooted in the centuries-old traditional hand-weaving practice of the Döşemealtı district of Antalya Province. It is made from sheep’s wool and woven using the Turkish (Gördes) knot. These carpets are officially registered with a geographical indication mark and are characterized by distinctive geometric and stylized motifs, colors derived from natural root dyes, and a local loom structure.

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The Döşemealtı Hand-Knotted Carpet is a carpet product developed by the Teke nomads who settled in the region after the 12th century. It is distinguished by a unique geographical production link and is officially registered with a geographical indication mark. Its registration number is 796, registered on 8 July 2021; the application was submitted on 27 August 2020 by the Döşemealtı Municipality. The product category is classified as “carpets and kilims,” and the type of geographical indication is designated as a geographical indication mark.

The Döşemealtı Hand-Knotted Carpet is woven on warp and weft systems made of wool yarn, using frame looms and the Turkish (Gördes) knot. The Turkish knot is applied by wrapping the weft thread twice around two adjacent warp threads and then pulling the ends between them. This technique allows motifs to be defined more clearly and geometrically. The knot density of the carpet is measured by the number of knots per square centimeter or square decimeter. Previous applications showed a knot density of 3x4 or 4x4 knots per square centimeter, but this ratio has now decreased to 2x2.

The border is woven without loops in a kilim style, measuring 1–1.5 cm in width and matching the ground color of the carpet. The kilim weave is 2–3 cm thick. The carpet’s dimensions are typically square-like in form, with the smallest size measuring 71x120 cm and the largest measuring 143x196 cm.

The carpet designs are shaped by traditional motifs and symmetrical compositions, each motif reflecting a continuous symbolic system.

Identified types and their dimensions:

• Halelli Carpet: 74x126 cm. Motifs include şıngır, yantır, and derived elements.
• Toplu Carpet: 74x130 cm. Cross-shaped motifs.
• Akrepli Carpet: 77x128 cm. Scorpion motif within a medallion.
• Dallı Carpet: 68x119 cm. Central “clawed flower” motif.
• Dallı-Akrepli Carpet: 73x138 cm. Mixed motif arrangement.
• Camili Carpet: 70x140 cm. Mosque and star motifs.
• Kocasulu Carpet: 79x136 cm. Central field with Kocasu motif.

The borders referred to locally as “su” consist of various pattern sequences and are defined in folk terminology. These include names such as kocasu, nacaklı su, laleli su, öküz sidiği, and tutmaç suyu.

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The carpets are produced in the neighborhoods of Camili, Ekşili, Ilıca, Killik, Karataş, Ahırtaş, Dereli, Karaveliler, Selimiye, and Kovanlık, all under the Döşemealtı district of Antalya Province. These areas are also used to spread the carpets after production, allowing their colors to undergo tonal changes due to exposure to sunlight and humidity.

The designation “Döşemealtı Hand-Knotted Carpet” and the geographical indication emblem must appear on the product itself or its packaging. When this is not feasible, the designation and emblem must be displayed in a clearly visible location within the production facility.

Monitoring activities are conducted by a monitoring board composed of at least one representative each from the Döşemealtı Municipality and the Döşemealtı District Public Education Center, appointed under the coordination of the Döşemealtı Municipality and possessing expertise in the product. Monitoring is carried out annually; frequency may be increased in response to complaints or specific needs.

Monitoring criteria include:

• Compliance of the yarn used with established specifications,
• Adherence of dyeing techniques to approved methods,
• Consistency of knot density with the standard number of knots per square centimeter,
• Compliance of knot type with the standard,
• Structural characteristics and placement of motifs within the composition,
• Proportion of traditional motifs within the overall composition,
• Correct use of the geographical indication designation and emblem.

The monitoring board may seek support from experts or service providers in public or private institutions when necessary. The registering institution is responsible for initiating legal procedures to protect the rights associated with the geographical indication.

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