Hereké silk carpet (warp, weft and silk velvet), Western Tur - Lot 292

Hereké silk carpet (warp, weft and silk velvet), Western Turkey, circa 1930-1950. 114 x 69 cm This rug features an elegant polychrome stylized floral design on an ivory ground. A bronze-green border with flower garlands is framed by two counter-borders. Good condition. "Héréké is a small Turkish town on the shores of the Gulf of Izmit. In 1844, when the Ottomans had to abandon abandon Egypt, they transferred the major manufacturing trades from Cairo to Héréké. Héréké, closer to Istanbul, seemed the ideal place to continue Cairo's own textile tradition of superb carpets for the local aristocracy and European ambassadors. Indeed, a year earlier, in 1843, a very large silk spinning mill, the Manufacture Impériale de la Soie, was inaugurated in Héréké. Manufacture Impériale de la Soie. Right from the start, Héréké carpets were considered prestigious pieces for their quality of the material used, silk and precious metal threads. The silk thread used for the entire carpet made it possible to achieve exceptional knotting finesse." Bibliographical reference: Sabahi T., Splendeurs des tapis d'Orient, Atlas edition, p.211.