ICOC is dedicated to advancing the understanding of carpet and related textile arts, primarily of the eastern hemisphere. To this end, the aims and objectives of ICOC are to:
- Arrange for periodic international forums to present papers and organize exhibitions which are intended to encourage the interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge and ideas about Oriental carpets by scholars, collectors, dealers, and others of different interests, backgrounds and countries. Such forums would promote and stimulate rug studies.
- Arrange for the publication of conference papers presented and of exhibition catalogs, books and other materials.
- Encourage and maintain high standards for the presentations and for the exhibitions.
- Provide the organizational structure to fulfill the above aims and objectives.
Information about events
Carpets and Collections of the Swiss Alpine Area – ICOC Conference Tour September 2024
In September 2024, the ICOC and TKF collaborated with one of the oldest carpet and textile societies in the world—the Forum Textil- und Teppichkunst (FTT), based in Basel, Switzerland.
Read more in the article about the ICOC Conference Tour.
15th ICOC Istanbul June 6-9, 2024
The 15th International Conference on Oriental Carpets (ICOC) was held in Istanbul from June 6 -9, 2024 in collaboration with Istanbul Carpet Exporter Association. Read the review of ICOC Istanbul 2024.
TKF – ICOC Conference Tour Poland, September 2023
In September 2023, the TKF, in cooperation with ICOC, hosted the “ICOC Conference Tour Poland.” This tour offered international experts the opportunity to explore significant collections in Krakow, Warsaw, and Ciechanow. Read more about the ICOC Conference Tour Poland.
TKF – ICOC – Tour: Carpets and Collections of the Alpine Area, September 2019
In September 2019, the TKF hosted the “ICOC-Tour: Carpets and Collections of the Alpine Area,” in collaboration with ICOC. This tour brought international experts to explore some of the most significant collections in Bavaria, Tyrol, and South Tyrol.
Read more about Carpets and Collections of the Alpine Area.
14th ICOC Washington DC June 7-10, 2018
The 14th International Conference on Oriental Carpets (ICOC) was held in Washington DC from June 7 -10, 2018 in collaboration with the Textile Museum and the George Washington University Museum. Events began on Thursday 7 June with tours of exhibitions and local textile storage and conservation facilities, followed by an evening reception at the Dealers’ Fair.
Read more about the 14th International Conference on Oriental Carpets.
5th International Symposium on Azerbaijani Carpets
ICOC worked with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan and other agencies to produce the 5th International Symposium on Azerbaijani Carpets in Baku, Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea from October 17-20, 2017. The Symposium lectures were accompanied by various exhibitions at the Carpet Museum and the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art where an important embroidery exhibition with international loans opened on October 17, 2017. In addition, there were special and fascinating tours of Azerbaijan and Georgia.
13th ICOC in Washington DC was a big success
The 13th International Conference on Oriental Carpets (ICOC) was held in Washington DC from 6 – 9 August 2015. This edition was scheduled especially to collaborate with and support The Textile Museum’s new location on the campus of George Washington University. Read more about the 13th ICOC.
Vienna/Budapest September 15-21, 2014
ICOC conducted a 6 night tour of important carpets, sights, lectures and exhibitions in Vienna and Budapest in 2014 from September 15 through September 21. In Vienna, the program included special exhibitions and visits with lectures to major museums (the newly remodeled carpets section at the MAK, the Natural History Museum, and others). The tour in Budapest also included visits to and lectures at the Museum of Applied Art and at Esztergom. Read more about the Vienna/Budapest Tour.
Stockholm June 16-19, 2011
Post-conference tour to St. Petersburg 20–23 June 2011; pre-conference tour to Copenhagen 14-15 June 2011
Read more about the Stockholm Conference in 2011.
Istanbul April 19-23, 2007
The 11th International Conference on Oriental Carpets (ICOC) took place in Istanbul from April 19-23, 2007, bringing together nearly 600 participants, including scholars, collectors, dealers, and enthusiasts from around the world.
Read more at Jozan.net about the ICOC Istanbul 2007: ICOC Istanbul Overview
Sydney, Australia September 16-19, 2004
Read more about Regional Conference: ICOC Down Under
Washington, DC April 17-21, 2003
The 10th International Conference on Oriental Carpets (ICOC) was held in Washington, DC from 17 – 21 April 2003.
Read more about the Tenth International Conference on Oriental Carpets
Books from ICOC
Beautifully illustrated Exhibition catalogues and the indispensable reference series: Oriental Carpet and Textile Studies.