Hereke Rugs
Guide to Turkish Hereke Rugs & Carpets
Hereke Rugs have a very special place in the pantheon of Oriental Rugs. Hereke Rugs were made in the workshops of Sultan, Abdülmecid I for his massive Dolmabahçe palace on the Bosporus. As such Hereke represent the highest level of large Turkish carpets equaled only by the Kum Kapi Rugs which were generally smaller. The rug production started at the same time as the construction of the palace which was built from 1843 to 1856.
Hereke is on the north shore of Izmit bay southeast of Istanbul in Northwest Turkey.
Hereke Area Map
HEREKE SILK FABRIC AND CARPET FACTORY
Hereke Fabrika-i Hümâyûn was established at Hereke east of Istanbul in 1843. At the time it was the largest such manufactory for silk fabric and carpets in the Ottoman Empire.
Efforts to develop Turkish industry along western lines commenced in the early l9th century, and the Hereke Silk Fabric underwent a series of changes and improvements which kept it at the forefront of technology in its field. Fabrics and carpets were woven here for Dolmabahçe and all the other imperial residences, which served as display cases for the finest of the factory’s products. While Dolmabahçe Palace was under construction a weaving mill known as the Hereke Dökümhanesi was set up in the grounds to produce the items required for furnishing the new palace in situ.
Today the Hereke factory continues in operation as a museum-factory, an exceptional example of this genre of institution." Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Culture - Hereke Silk Fabric and Carpet Factory
The very fine Hereke silk rugs are extremely labor intensive and the prices tend to reflect that. Hereke copies are made in China particularly in Zhenping in Henan province. The market place sees the Chinese copies as no more than copies and the real Hereke is much more valued in the marketplace.
Below are details of the backs of a silk and a wool Hereke rug. These are nice examples but not the finest by any means. Some silk Hereke rugs in the 3 - 4,000 kpsi and wool in the 1200 kpsi range have been made.
Examples:
Hereke Rug Silk and Metal-thread
Silk Hereke Rug Very Finely Knotted 19th C
Outstanding, cloth-like handle of silk flowers on a silk field.The European influenced floral wreath and arabesque is set in an unusual square format. Linen backed. Fragile with areas of damage.
Silk Hereke Prayer Rug mid 20th C.
150 by 105cm., 4ft. 11in. by 3ft. 5in.
Silk Hereke Rug from Kusadasi Bazaar 54
Silk Hereke Rug with Jewish Menora
Hereke Silk Jewish Biblical Rug Menora
Handmade Silk
Silk Rugs are known worldwide for their intricate designs, unique styles and for their superb workmanship.
The silk used in this rug is from Bursa and renowned throughout the world for its quality.
Size: 104 cm x 73 cm ( 3ft. 4in. x 2ft. 4in.)
Silk Hereke Rug in Islamic Prayer or Jewish Synagogue Design
Hereke Silk Islamic Prayer Rug
Handmade Silk from Bursa
Size: 117 cm x 74 cm (3ft. 8in. x 2ft. 4in.)
Silk Hereke Rug Armenian Bible Prayer Rug Design
Hereke Silk Armenian Bible Prayer Rug
Made from handmade Bursa silk, which is known worldwide for its quality.
Size: 104 cm x 76 cm (3ft. 4in. x 2ft. 5in.)
Silk Hereke Carpet, c.1920-30
Origin: Turkey, ca. 1920-30
Size: 395 x 294 cm
Description: Note the pattern of rosettes, palmettes and lancet leaves. The elegance of the design, the harmonious coloring and the quality of the silk and their processing are to be described as above-average, and likewise, its condition of preservation.
HEREKE SILK AND METAL-THREAD RUG
West Anatolia, Circa 1900
A Hereke Silk Rug and a Qum Silk Rug
110 x 62cm; 178 x 109cm
A Hereke Carpet, West Anatolia
Description: woven in wool and cotton, the purple ground with large central foliate medallion in cream with tracery and leaf scroll arabesques in wine, green, peach and dark blue, enclosing foliate palmettes form, which are suspended mosque lamps. Framed by a cream border with wine scrolls, beige and peach blooms, a broader border with dark blue ground, wine and cram medallions, foliate cartouches and tracery and outer pale peach border with pale blue leaf scrolls and wine lily motifs.
A Hereke Carpet, Northwest Anatolia
Measurements: approximately 391 by 303cm
A Hereke Carpet, Northwest Anatolia
Measurements: approximately 10ft. 7in. by 9ft. 11in. (3.23 by 3.02m.)
A Hereke Silk Rug
Measurements: approximately 5ft. 10in. by 4ft. 1in. 1.78m by 1.24m
A silk Hereke prayer rug, West Turkey, mid 20th century
153 by 99cm., 5ft. by 3ft. 3in
A Hereke Silk Rug, late 20th C.
approximately 175 by 116cm and 220 by 139cm
Hereke is on the north shore of Izmit bay southeast of Istanbul in Northwest Turkey.
Hereke Area Map
HEREKE SILK FABRIC AND CARPET FACTORY
Hereke Fabrika-i Hümâyûn was established at Hereke east of Istanbul in 1843. At the time it was the largest such manufactory for silk fabric and carpets in the Ottoman Empire.
Efforts to develop Turkish industry along western lines commenced in the early l9th century, and the Hereke Silk Fabric underwent a series of changes and improvements which kept it at the forefront of technology in its field. Fabrics and carpets were woven here for Dolmabahçe and all the other imperial residences, which served as display cases for the finest of the factory’s products. While Dolmabahçe Palace was under construction a weaving mill known as the Hereke Dökümhanesi was set up in the grounds to produce the items required for furnishing the new palace in situ.
Today the Hereke factory continues in operation as a museum-factory, an exceptional example of this genre of institution." Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Culture - Hereke Silk Fabric and Carpet Factory
The very fine Hereke silk rugs are extremely labor intensive and the prices tend to reflect that. Hereke copies are made in China particularly in Zhenping in Henan province. The market place sees the Chinese copies as no more than copies and the real Hereke is much more valued in the marketplace.
Below are details of the backs of a silk and a wool Hereke rug. These are nice examples but not the finest by any means. Some silk Hereke rugs in the 3 - 4,000 kpsi and wool in the 1200 kpsi range have been made.
Examples:
Hereke Rug Silk and Metal-thread
Silk Hereke Rug Very Finely Knotted 19th C
Outstanding, cloth-like handle of silk flowers on a silk field.The European influenced floral wreath and arabesque is set in an unusual square format. Linen backed. Fragile with areas of damage.
Silk Hereke Prayer Rug mid 20th C.
150 by 105cm., 4ft. 11in. by 3ft. 5in.
Silk Hereke Rug from Kusadasi Bazaar 54
Silk Hereke Rug with Jewish Menora
Hereke Silk Jewish Biblical Rug Menora
Handmade Silk
Silk Rugs are known worldwide for their intricate designs, unique styles and for their superb workmanship.
The silk used in this rug is from Bursa and renowned throughout the world for its quality.
Size: 104 cm x 73 cm ( 3ft. 4in. x 2ft. 4in.)
Silk Hereke Rug in Islamic Prayer or Jewish Synagogue Design
Hereke Silk Islamic Prayer Rug
Handmade Silk from Bursa
Size: 117 cm x 74 cm (3ft. 8in. x 2ft. 4in.)
Silk Hereke Rug Armenian Bible Prayer Rug Design
Hereke Silk Armenian Bible Prayer Rug
Made from handmade Bursa silk, which is known worldwide for its quality.
Size: 104 cm x 76 cm (3ft. 4in. x 2ft. 5in.)
Silk Hereke Carpet, c.1920-30
Origin: Turkey, ca. 1920-30
Size: 395 x 294 cm
Description: Note the pattern of rosettes, palmettes and lancet leaves. The elegance of the design, the harmonious coloring and the quality of the silk and their processing are to be described as above-average, and likewise, its condition of preservation.
HEREKE SILK AND METAL-THREAD RUG
West Anatolia, Circa 1900
Full silk pile throughout, a couple of broken warps in centre, selvages and ends original with partial knotted fringes at either end, overall good condition.
6ft.2in. x 4ft.5in. (188cm. x 135cm.)
A Hereke Silk Rug and a Qum Silk Rug
110 x 62cm; 178 x 109cm
A Hereke Carpet, West Anatolia
Description: woven in wool and cotton, the purple ground with large central foliate medallion in cream with tracery and leaf scroll arabesques in wine, green, peach and dark blue, enclosing foliate palmettes form, which are suspended mosque lamps. Framed by a cream border with wine scrolls, beige and peach blooms, a broader border with dark blue ground, wine and cram medallions, foliate cartouches and tracery and outer pale peach border with pale blue leaf scrolls and wine lily motifs.
A copy of the Ardebil carpet, early 20th century.
A Hereke Carpet, Northwest Anatolia
Measurements: approximately 391 by 303cm
Description: circa 1920
A Hereke Carpet, Northwest Anatolia
Measurements: approximately 10ft. 7in. by 9ft. 11in. (3.23 by 3.02m.)
Description: circa 1920 with a kufesque Hereke insignia to one corner.
A Hereke Silk Rug
Measurements: approximately 5ft. 10in. by 4ft. 1in. 1.78m by 1.24m
Description: Early 20th century. Repaired slits, rewoven area, and fragile foundation.
A silk Hereke prayer rug, West Turkey, mid 20th century
153 by 99cm., 5ft. by 3ft. 3in
A Hereke Silk Rug, late 20th C.
approximately 175 by 116cm and 220 by 139cm
Northwest Anatolia, late 20th century