Turkish Hereke Antique Rug BB5914 9'7" × 12'0" $12,000

This circa-1920 antique Turkish Hereke rug features an intricate all-over design of geometric abstractions in shades of red and yellow, surrounded by a millefleur pattern against a field of midnight blue. In the early nineteenth century, on the outskirts of Istanbul, the Hereke carpet workshop was established, becoming famous for producing exceptional, finely woven Turkish carpets of outstanding technical ability. These antique rugs often feature luxurious materials such as silk and metal-thread worked into designs, emulating the antique Persian carpets of the Ottoman and Safavid Court workshops. Hereke carpets typically are very large, palace sized carpets, with the precision of their double knots (Turkish or Ghiordes knots) allowing for a clear display of patterns. Today, Hereke carpets and rugs are still made with the traditional patterns of the Ottoman sultan, Abdülmecid I, as well as both traditional Anatolian and contemporary figurative patterns.