Oushak Rugs
Oushak rugs — woven in and around the town of Uşak in western Turkey since the Ottoman era — are among the most sought-after decorative carpets in today's market, prized for their soft apricot, terracotta, and sage palettes and large-scale floral designs. They are also Austin Auction Gallery's strongest rug category at the block: an 18-foot estate Oushak sold with us for $18,000 in March 2026.
What it's Worth
Size and color drive Oushak value more than knot count. Standard room sizes (8x10 to 10x13) in good condition typically bring $400–$3,000 at auction. Large and oversized estate pieces are a different market entirely: Austin Auction Gallery sold a 17'11" x 14' estate Oushak for $18,000 and a 15'4" x 11'4" Turkish Oushak for $8,000 in the same March 2026 sale, and a 14'11" angora wool example brought $4,000 in 2024. Faded, soft-palette examples often outsell brighter ones — do not assume wear means low value.
Room sizes $400–$3,000; large estate examples $4,000–$8,000; exceptional oversized pieces to $18,000
Our Sold Results
ESTATE HAND-TIED OUSHAK RUG, 17'11" X 14'
$ 18,000.00 USD
LARGE ESTATE HAND-TIED TURKISH OUSHAK RUG, 15'4" X 11'4"
$ 8,000.00 USD
LARGE FINE ANTIQUE HAND TIED OUSHAK RUG, C. 1870
$ 7,500.00 USD
HAND-TIED TURKISH OUSHAK RUG, 14'5" X 10'1"
$ 6,500.00 USD
HAND-TIED TURKISH OUSHAK ANGORA WOOL RUG, 14'11" X 11'6"
$ 4,000.00 USD
HAND-TIED OUSHAK ESTATE RUG, 12'11" X 10'
$ 3,000.00 USD
Recently Sold
Overview & History
Oushak weaving dates to the earliest years of the Ottoman carpet trade, when the town supplied palace commissions and the famed 'star' and 'medallion' Ushak carpets that appear in Renaissance European paintings. The rugs collectors and decorators pursue today are mostly late 19th- and early 20th-century room-size pieces, woven with lustrous, often angora-blended wool on a wool foundation. Their look is unmistakable: oversized, open floral and medallion drawing, a soft luminous palette dominated by apricot, ivory, terracotta, and pale green, and a relatively coarse weave that reads as texture rather than as a flaw. That decorator appeal is exactly why Oushaks now outperform many technically finer Persian rugs at auction. Large sizes are where the money is — genuine 12-by-15-foot and larger estate Oushaks are scarce, and designers compete hard for them.
Identifying & Marks
Look for a coarse, supple handle with large symmetric (Turkish/Ghiordes) knots visible on the back, a wool warp and weft (cotton foundations suggest later or non-Oushak production), and large-scale floral or medallion drawing with generous open ground. The palette is the giveaway: soft apricots, salmons, ivories, and greens rather than the saturated reds and navies of Persian city rugs. Many modern 'Oushak-style' rugs are woven in India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan — genuine Turkish examples have more irregular drawing and abrash (natural color striation) that copies rarely replicate.
FAQ
What is my Oushak rug worth?
Room-size Oushaks typically bring $400–$3,000 at auction, but large estate examples are the exception: we sold a 17'11" x 14' Oushak for $18,000 and a 15'4" example for $8,000 in March 2026. Size, soft color, and condition drive the price — send us dimensions and photos for a free estimate.
Why do faded Oushak rugs sell so well?
The soft, sun-washed palette is exactly what decorators want from an Oushak — pale apricot, ivory, and sage read as luxury, not damage. A gently faded Oushak often outsells a bright, high-contrast one, so never dismiss yours for looking 'washed out.'
How do I know my rug is a real Turkish Oushak?
Look for wool warps (not cotton), large symmetric knots visible on a coarse back, oversized floral or medallion drawing, and natural color variation (abrash). Modern Oushak-style rugs from India and Pakistan copy the palette but show cotton foundations and machine-regular drawing. We can usually tell from photos of the front and back.