Specialties
Uniquely crafted to last a lifetime, our exquisite selection of handmade rugs will add character and charm to your spaces.
Whether it’s walking along ancient city walls, visiting the historical bazaars, watching the sun set over the Golden Horn, or relaxing in a Turkish bath, there’s always something more to do in Istanbul's old town.
Your visit to Nakkas will open you a new gate and you will experience both history and artisan details here. The Turkish word “Nakkas” means “miniaturist or “muralist”. Both words embody “attention to detail”. This is essential when understanding and selecting fine Turkish arts. This is all what Nakkas is about.
The showroom’s vast and varied collection includes over 20,000 carpets and kilims, including antique rugs. In addition to the exclusively hand-woven classic carpets, the collection also includes modern designs created with traditional weaving techniques. Exquisite rugs made by female artisans from different regions in Turkey take up to 7 months to create. What you will see is not a just a design, it is true craftsmanship representing cultural heritage.
History
Established in 1989.
The story of Nakkaş is also the story of Cengiz and Cengiz, two people who met working in a rug shop, became fast friends, and then business partners. Starting off in a traditional Istanbul antique rug shop, they rolled and unrolled, stacked and restacked the colorful offerings for visiting customers all day long. Over the years, they learned the colors, the patterns and the textures; how to distinguish between natural and artificial, between used and antique. Learning about the process of making these woven heirlooms, finding them and bringing them back to the city set the foundation of their passion for Turkish rugs.
Over time, they developed a reputation for quality and honesty, with returning customers becoming close friends as well. And, with a growing business and international clientele, in 2004 they moved into a new building just behind the Hippodrome on Nakilbent Sokak, and were reborn as Nakkaş.
Meet the Business Owner: Cengiz K.
We are passionate not a just for a carpet or kilim design, we share true craftsmanship representing Turkish cultural heritage at Nakkas.