Alter Hereke made of pure silk mit Goldfäden
140 cm x 98 cm
Nr. 17451

Floral Alter Hereke made of pure silk mit Goldfäden, blue gray with border and garden of paradise pattern

Place of origin

Very valuable silk rugs originate from the Turkish city of Hereke. The tradition was promoted by the art-loving Sultan Abd-ul-Medjid (reigned 1839 - 1861). In 1844, he had the court knotting workshops moved from Cairo back to Hereke. Hand-knotted Hereke silk rugs are among the finest rugs in the world and are knotted with a density of up to 6 million knots per square meter. Thanks to the knotting technique, the pattern is just as clearly visible on the back as on the front. Antique Turkish rugs fetch top prices in renowned art auction houses.

Typical motifs of the Hereke rugs include flowers, twigs and leaves, as well as birds, the tree of life and the so-called Mehrab or Mihrab pattern, a prayer niche depicted together with oil lamps. Besides traditional motifs and typical Ottoman or Turkish patterns, Hereke silk rugs are today knotted with more modern patterns to suit contemporary tastes. The characteristic colors of Hereke silk rugs are deep dark blue, bright red, vivid green, bright yellow and various natural tones in all nuances. This old Hereke is more than 40 years old and a true collector's item. The pattern of this noble Hereke is accentuated through the use of gold threads. The gold threads create a shimmering, glossy contrast and let the colors shine in warm nuances, depending on lighting. The fine gold threads are not only precious but also extremely difficult to work with and underline the craftsmanship of the knotters.

Patterns

This Hereke is adorned with a dreamlike paradise garden motif. The paradise garden motif is typical of the safawidian era. Paradise Garden rugs are embellished with a stylized, geometric representation of a traditional Persian garden with delicate plants and trees. The Greek word "paradeisos" comes from the Middle Persian word "pardēs". Originally the term referred to Persian royal gardens and only in the biblical context did it acquire the connotation of the garden of God. These fertile and artistic royal gardens housed various exotic plants and animals. They were surrounded by a wall, symbolic of the separation between heaven and earth. Traditional Persian Gardens of Paradise were rectangular, with a river or other body of water running from north to south and from east to west, forming a cross dividing the garden into four sections. The representation of water, which is extremely precious in arid regions, also plays a prominent role in rugs depicting paradise gardens.

The background of this Hereke is blue gray. The border features terracotta, blue gray and off white.

Condition

This Hereke has had admirers before you. It was hand knotted about 1980. We have cleaned it thoroughly and restored it lovingly. Therefore it is in very good condition despite its age.

Material

The silk of the pile of this Hereke lets the colors of the pattern shine in different facets depending on lighting. It makes this Hereke a real jewel and creates a cozy, yet very elegant and high-quality atmosphere in the room. Silk is extracted from the cocoons of the silk moth by hand. Since individual silk threads are extremely long, they allow for the production of very thin yarns that are nevertheless tear-resistant at low tension. Smaller rug knots can be knotted with the thin yarn, which makes it possible to create finer patterns. Therefore, the finest rugs in the world are hand-knotted made of pure silk.

Furthermore, the pattern of this exquisite Hereke has been accented by the use of gold threads. The gold threads create a shimmering, shiny contrast. The fine gold threads are not only precious, but also extremely difficult to work with and demonstrate the skill of the weavers. In this Hereke even the background is made of pure silk. Due to the thin but durable material of the weft and warp threads, a particularly fine knotting and, therefore, a particularly fine pattern is feasible.