Old Kayseri | 210 x 83 cm | Nr. Z-3117

Old Kayseri

Delivery time	2 days
Origin	Turkey
Dimensions	210 cm x 83 cm (= 1.74 m²)
Construction	hand-knotted
Material	Pile: mercerised cotton
knots	360.000
Condition	pre-owned and cleaned
Edition	one-of-a-kind piece

Origin

Kayseri (Latin Caesarea, named in honour of the Roman emperor Tiberius) is the capital of the province of the same name, Kayseri, in Cappadocia in Turkey. Kayseri rugs (also Kaiseri rugs) are usually made of pure silk. They are highly valuable and decorative. Kayseri rugs are typically knotted in smaller sizes and used as wall hangings or prayer rugs.

This Old Kayseri is around 96 years old and a true collector's piece.

Material

The pile of this old Kayseri is made of mercerised cotton. Cotton consists of lustrous fibres filled with cell sap. Once the cell sap dries after the harvest, the surface of the fibre buckles and loses its sheen because of the way light is then refracted. In the middle of the 19th century, John Mercer invented the process named after him, mercerisation (also spelled mercerization). In the course of mercerisation, the cotton is held under tension in cold concentrated caustic soda and takes on a new, higher-grade fibre structure. Mercerised cotton has shortened fibres with a round cross-section. The treated fabric no longer shrinks and holds its shape very well. The altered refraction of light gives the fibre a silky sheen. Mercerised cotton also takes up dye more readily and is far more tear-resistant than untreated cotton. Because mercerisation is involved and costly, only high-grade cotton fibres are refined in this way. Owing to the silky sheen of the yarn, mercerised cotton – like viscose – is often referred to as "artificial silk". The colloquial term "artificial silk" is not permitted under the German Textile Labelling Act (TKG), however.

The weft and warp threads of this Old Kayseri are made of cotton. This versatile material is tear-resistant and elastic, which makes it particularly well suited to a hard-wearing foundation weave.

Condition

This Old Kayseri has already had admirers before you. It was knotted around 96. It has been thoroughly cleaned and is in good but unrestored condition. The edges are heavily worn in some places. The pile is considerably worn down. The rug has a few smaller stains. We have not restored this Old Kayseri, because we feel it has a special charm just as it is. If that is what you would like, we will of course happily restore the rug for you. Either way, this Old Kayseri will give you pleasure for decades to come.