Oriental Rugs Glossary

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Hereke

Hereke is located in North West Turkey at the Gulf of Izmit at the Marmara Sea approx. 60 km to Istanbul. 1844 a manufactory of cloths has been established here by Sultan Abd-ul Mejid. 1890 the then Sultan Abd-ul Hamid has brought master carpet weavers from Sivas, Manisa and Goerdes and expanded the manufacture to carpet making in which high quality and very fine rugs have been made. It used to be (and still is) mostly variations of Persian, French (in the style of Louis XV and Louis XVI of Savonnerie) and elegant Turkish designs. The partly gold and silver thread, the relief structure, and the very fine silk rugs often with a metallic shine are all characteristic for Hereke rugs. The wool used for the rugs is of very high quality, almost with no exception. Old Hereke rugs achieve very high prices in today's markets. Often (but not always) they are signed by the master weaver. The quality and beauty of Hereke rugs is literally legendary.