 |
Hereke Silk Carpet (Rug)
The first studies on carpet in Hereke were started in Sultan Abdülhamid's period (1876-1909). Master workmen were brought from Gördes, Demirci and Sivas to Hereke Weaving Factory. In 1891 the carpet workshop with 100 looms was constructed in today's Lise's place with the signature of Sultan Abdülhamit on it. These workmen taught the art of weaving carpets to the people of near villages. Sooner the art became popular very quickly. The palace's carpets and gift carpets for foreign statesmen were being weaved here. Particularly after 1943 carpet weaving activated in Hereke. At first they made Usak, Gördes, Bergama and Saray styled carpets. Later they started making authentic carpets with the help of Usak, Gördes, Bergama and Saray carpets' motifs.
Hereke's real fame is its silk carpets. The carpets were woven by Bursa silk and they were easily sold both at home and out of country. Hereke silk carpets have approximately 100 knots in one cm2. Some very thin and very valuable carpets have more than 400 knots in one cm2. Mostly rose, carnation, tulip and plum tree motifs were used on the carpets. Some carpets have Arabic writings in a frame and some have animal motifs among flower motifs.
Hereke carpets have different names according to their size, for example; small pillow(25x40 cm), pillow(60x90 cm), praying rug(seccade, 120x180 cm), bedstead (karyola, 150x225 cm), head(kelle, 200x300 cm).
After 1970, when the private enterprise started investing on carpet weaving, the sector accelerates and reaches to peak. But some of the producers left the art of carpet weaving, only interested its commercial aspect and some shoddy carpets are sold in foreign countries as Hereke carpets. Hence the carpet sector retrogresses in 90's.
|
Cleaning and Taking Care
Looking after your rug from the beginning helps your rug last for a long time Normal care consist of two steps
1. Periodic cleaning means removing the dust which has accumulated in the pile of the rug. The rug must be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner gently once a week and throughly once a month. This process prevents the settling of dust and crumbs within the pile.
br>
On new rugs, there can be some loose wool yarn. After a few times of vacuuming, the loose wool yarn will be removed. To clean spills and any sort of dirt on the rugs, the use-of soap and water is advised. A small amount of rug shampoo or ordinary soap many be poured into a container of cold water and the soiled area should be washed and wiped with a brush and cloth or sponge. Following this, the soap must be removed thoroughly with a clean cloth and left to dry. If water is absorbed completely and has passed to the under side of rug, then back the side of the rug must also be dried.
2. The most suitable cleaning method is to have the rug washed completely by professional washers (not dry cleaners ) once every 10 to 15 years. |
|
|
