The coastal town of Hereke is located near Istanbul on the northern edge of the Bay of Izmit. Hereke has been a unique weaving center since 1843, at the time when the Ottoman Emperor Sultan Abdulmecid established the Hereke Imperial Factory. Originally, Hereke carpets were produced exclusively for the aristocracy of the Ottoman Empire and offered as gifts for visiting heads of state and royal palaces. It was not until 1890 that the carpets were made available to the public. Today, Hereke carpets are highly sought-after collector's items. Hereke carpets represent the pinnacle of Turkish weaving tradition and the best of all Turkish hand-knotted carpets are made here. The rugs are double-knotted with the Turkish knot (symmetrical knot) and woven either exclusively with a silk warp and pile or with wool and cotton. Only the best raw materials are used in Hereke rugs and the silk used comes from the city of Bursa. Hereke carpet designs are inspired by both traditional Turkish and curvilinear Persian carpet motifs and usually include detailed depictions of flowers, birds, mihrabs (prayer niches) and the tree of life. The color palette is broad and harmonious, with different shades of ivory, dark blue, red, yellow and green being used in the carpets. To this day, some of the best silk carpets in the world are produced in Hereke.
Specifications
ConditionExcellentColorsMulti ColorMaterialmaterial-silkNumber of items1First ownerYesHeight1 cmWidth72 cmDepth102 cm