Hereke, and Kars
A wide variety of types for carpets are produced in Turkey within widely varying degrees of quality. For the discerning buyer or collector there is twelve recognized types of carpets, each type produced in different geographical districts and each having distinctive designs, colors and quality. They are easily noted once one learns to "read" or recognize the patterns or designs and colors associated with the geographical area in which produced. The finest contemporary and highest quality of silk and wool carpets currently made in Turkey is produced in town near Istanbul, called Hereke.
The Hereke carpets are either woven in pure silk or cotton and wool. The pure silk carpet uses silk from Bursa. In wool and cotton carpets the warps and wefts are cotton and the best quality of wool is used d-for knots in the pile. The silk Hereke carpets has from 1.0 to 1.2 million knots per square meter. The knot density in the highest quality wool carpets is anywhere between 360,000 to 400,000 knots per square meter. In second quality wool carpets the knots are around 250,000 to 300,000 per square meter. The dominant colors in Hereke carpets are dark blue, cream and cinnamon and occasionally yellow and green are used. The traditional floral designs are common and each design has its own name, such as: Seljuk Star, Seven Mountain Flowers, Ploneise, 101 Flowers, and Tulip. The flowers in the design and the harmony of colors add warmth to a home.
Kars.
Kars located near the Russian border in Turkey, produces carpets designed in the occasion style. The main motif used is the large cruciform. The quiet olive-green combines with dull red-brown and lighter beige tones give the piece enormous warmth. The eight stylized trees of life in the corners are surrounded by a Caucasian calyx-and-leaf border and the guard stripes are called 'running dogs." The extremely valuable hand-spun mountain wool is used in the hand weaving and is especially prized by acknowledged buyers. Natural dyed wool is used with the dominant coders navy blue, red and cream. There are 200.000 knots per square meter in Kars carpets and for this reason Kars carpets are so noted fine works of art.
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