Turkish Carpet Nativity

Turkish Carpet Nativity

Mustafa Yigit

Istanbul, Turkey

Wool, wood

2021

This Nativity, crafted in the form of a miniature Turkish carpet on a loom, was designed by Mustafa Yigit. The scene depicts Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus in a manger bed, with a star, camel, and sheep against a white background. The scene is woven from 100 percent wool yarn using double hand knots on cotton straps. Yigit moved to Istanbul in his late teens, eventually setting up a business in carpet weaving and ceramics. He developed this carpet-style design after being introduced to the Nativity story by an American friend. Today a small number of rural women make this Nativity for Yigit’s business, which provides extra income for their families. Nativities from Turkey are rare, because the country’s population is 99% Muslim.

Gift of Lynn Genzlinger