Signed Hereke Rug, Made Of Silk And Gold Thread — Turkey, Circa 1950

Signed Hereke rug, made of silk and gold thread — Turkey, circa 1950

Background entirely in gold thread — 159 × 100 cm

This exquisite Hereke carpet captivates with the delicacy of its floral design and the luminosity of its background, woven entirely in gold thread. Dated around 1950, it bears a signature woven into a cartouche on the upper border.

Its design features a garden of flowers and palmettes, connected by supple, leafy scrolls. The composition, balanced around a central axis, offers a wealth of detail, highlighted by fine dark brown outlines.

The color palette combines powdery and salmon-pink hues, ivory, golden yellow, and olive greens, set against a background with gold and champagne highlights that takes on taupe tones depending on the light. Several floral borders frame the central field, while a thin green border and light fringes complete the design.

Its density of 12,000 knots per square decimeter—or 1,200,000 knots per square meter—allows for remarkable precision in the design. The silk lends a delicate luster, complemented by the metallic sheen of the gold-thread background.

The Hereke Tradition

Located in Turkey on the shores of the Sea of Marmara, Hereke owes its fame to its imperial manufactory, founded in the 19th century to supply Ottoman palaces with precious textiles. Its carpets have become famous for the fineness of their knotting, their elaborate floral compositions, and the use of silk. This piece is part of this tradition of refinement, which continued into the 20th century.

Characteristics

• Origin: Hereke, Turkey.
• Date: circa 1950.
• Materials: silk and gold thread; background entirely in gold thread.
• Dimensions: 100 cm wide × 159 cm long.
• Density: 12,000 knots/dm².
• Signature: cartouche woven into the upper border.
• Design: floral scrolls, palmettes, and floral borders.

A luminous and refined piece, whose delicate design and gold background lend themselves equally well to wall display or to the decoration of an elegant interior.