Among all oriental carpets, a Turkish rug may be characterized by the choice of dyes and colors, textures, pattern and techniques.
Vintage Turkish rugs are usually tied with a symmetrical knot, called a “Turkish” knot, and traditionally made from wool and cotton. Silk carpets are also being made, but no silk Turkish carpet was found before 1870. In the early 20th century silk carpets were started to be woven, with silver and gold threads.
Most often silk threads are used for tiny details, and a carpet is 80 per cent wool, 10 per cent silk and the last 10 per cent cotton, which is the fringe. The number of knots determines the quality of each carpet and with silk more knots are needed to make the carpet strong. Carpets are traditional objects and hand made but for a contemporary human being, with all the technology at hand, it may be easier to understand the value of a silk hand-knotted rug when compared to a camera: the higher number of megapixels the better the camera. And the same can be said about carpets: the higher number of knots per square inch, the more exclusive carpet.
The same is required for the quality of silk. The easier to bend a carpet is, or the cooler and softer it feels, the better quality silk was used. The best silk is hand spun. Medium quality silk gives a bit harder rug, more difficult to bend.
Turkish silk carpets are regarded to be works of art and are connected with prestige and dignity since centuries. And the mystical flying carpets do exist. If a carpet is made of high quality silk the angle the light is cast on it changes its colors. So the look of the carpet depends on the direction you put it. Such silk rugs are easy to turn to show all those shimmering shades, that is why people call them flying carpets even nowadays.
