Hereké silk carpet (silk warp, weft and pile), Western Turke - Lot 222

Hereké silk carpet (silk warp, weft and pile), Western Turkey, circa 1950-1980 Finely knotted (Good condition.) Length: 88 cm; Width: 54 cm This finely knotted rug features a navy blue polylobed mihrab decorated with a flowering tree and nesting birds, framed by two phoenixes on a tobacco background with trees and birds. A red border with a garland of flowers surrounds the composition. "Héréké is a small Turkish town on the shores of the Gulf of Izmit. In 1844, when the Ottomans had to 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. From the outset, Héréké carpets were regarded as prestigious pieces for their and the 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. Expert : Alexandre CHEVALIER