Old Hereke made of pure silk with gold threads | 154cm x 98cm | No. 18683

Floral Alter Hereke made of pure silk mit Goldfäden, olive green patternd with central medallion and border

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

The luxuriant flower motifs of this Hereke are elegant and varied. The graceful vegetative symbols representing flowers, leaves and branches are artfully intertwined.

The embellished edging (border) forms a excellent contrast to the center and creates a transition at the edge of the rug.

The recurring pattern (so-called repeating pattern) flatters the design of the room and does not take attention away from the furniture, the decoration and architectural elements. It creates a pleasant atmosphere without dominating the style of the room. In this Hereke the repeating elements give way to the symmetrical medallion in the center of the panel.

The background of this Hereke is olive green. The border features golden beige, rusty red and olive green. The light brown center combines the colors terracotta and beige.

Condition

This Hereke has a story. It was hand knotted about 1920. It has been thoroughly cleaned and only partially restored condition but is in good condition. We have not completely restored this Hereke because we think it is as it is a special charm. If you would like, we will of course restore the rug further for you. We can restore almost any rug to an almost perfect condition.

Material

The silk of the pile of this Hereke lets the colors of the pattern shine in different nuances 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.