International Conference on Oriental Carpets XV

May 14, 2024

ICOC-XV, the 15th edition of the International Conference on Oriental Carpets, held in partnership with the Istanbul Carpet Exporters’ Association (IHIB), will take place from 6–9 June 2024 at The Marmara Hotel Taksim in Istanbul.

Balıkesir kilim (detail), west Anatolia, Turkey, 19th century. Vehbi Koç Foundation, 2626-25-00.

Academic sessions, exploring the oriental carpets of yesterday and today and the future of tradition, will be held within The Marmara Hotel. The ICOC XV’s keynote speaker is renowned scholar on Islamic Carpets, Prof. Walter B. Denny, whose lecture ‘Conservation and New Technological Frontiers in Carpet Study’, will be the highlight of the Opening Session on 6 June. The Marmara Hotel will also host a dealer’s fair, featuring 32 exhibitors selected by the organisation team.

Balıkesir kilim, west Anatolia, Turkey, 19th century. Vehbi Koç Foundation, 226-07A-CC.

Exhibitions including works from public and private collections will showcase the variety of techniques and materials used in rugs throughout the ages. These include:

• ‘Hidden Gems from the collections of the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum’
• ‘Topkapi Textiles’, held at the Dolmabahce Palace
• ‘Kilims from Private collections’, held at the historic venue of the Tophane-i-Amire
• ‘Kilims from the Josephine Powell Collection’, held at Vehbi Koc House, Buyukdere Evi
• ‘Woman Behind the Weave’ by Christopher Farr, held at The Marmara Hotel in a private room
• ‘Anatolian Heritage Fabrics’, held at The Marmara Hotel
• ‘Syrian and Lebanese Ottoman Era Textiles’, private collection at TIEM
• Renowned scholar and contemporary artist, Belkis Balpinar, will hold an exhibition at the Anna Laudel Gallery

Cicim, probably Bergama, west Anatolia, Turkey, 19th century. Vehbi Koç Foundation, 2627-10 – 00

In addition to these exhibitions, some dealers will organise private exhibitions at their showrooms. A registration pass will grant visitors to ICOC-XV access to the entire spectrum of events, including the opening gala, exhibition openings and academic sessions, as well as entry to certain museums.