Though its techniques and motifs may vary by region, the hearts, hands and language of the women of Anatolia are evident in their lace.

A natolia’s thousand and one species of plants and gaily colored flowers are reborn in the the imagination and inner eye of its women. And Flora, Ionian goddess of plants and flowers, is immortalized in the ‘oya’ or lace edging produced by their hands. The history of the decorative edging known in Europe as ‘Turkish lace’ is thought to date back as far as the 8th century B.C. to the Phrygians of Anatolia. Some sources indicate that needlework spread from 12th century Anatolia to Greece and from there via Italy to Europe. Traditionally, the headdresses and scarves women wore on their heads, the printed cloths, and prayer and funeral head coverings were decorated with various kinds of lace, which was also used on undergarments, to adorn outer garments, around the edges of towels and napkins and as a decorative element in many other places. In the Aegean region even men’s headdresses were decked with layers of lace.