Carpet - Kashgar Sofra

Essentials of life:
Running Water - Also expresses the wish for life to continue smoothly, like the running water.

Marriage, Birth, and Fertility:
Hands on Hips - Based on the Mother Goddess. This motif is usually used only when the weaver has given birth to a boy to express the pride of the mother.
Ram's Horn - Expresses fertiliy, heroism and power.
Fertility - These are often stylized versions of wheat and pomegranate, which symbolizes fertility.
Hair Band - Expresses the yearning of a young woman to get married. Young village girls typically keep their hair long until marriage.
Earrings - Because it is a traditional marriage present, this motif represents a girl's desire to get married.
Chest - Representing the dowry chest, this motif expresses a girl's yearning to get married.
Ying&Yang - Expresses love and unity.
Star - Represents happiness.

Some shops in Istanbul specialize in new or old carpets, while others sell both. Older carpets are usually handmade and thus more expensive. A few of the better shops are Kemal Erol (in the Grand Bazaar), Capadocias (No. 2 Hudavendigar Caddesi), and Noah's Ark (No. 11, Divanyolu Caddesi Ticarenthane Sokak) All three have owners who will educate you in the world of carpets without a hard sell.
 
  
Motifs 

efore your trip to Istanbul, browse the book Oriental Carpets: From the Tents, Cottages and Workshops of Asia by Jon Thompson. It'll lay the groundwork for a successful carpet shopping experience.

RECOMMENDED BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 
Smart Carpet Shopping in Istanbul
Text by Donovan Webster    Photo by Palani Mohan
Don't get taken for a ride when you buy that Turkish rug.