CARPET INFORMATION

History of Carpets 2000 years of traditional methods developed the Turkish carpets of today. It is believed the nomadic tribes of Turkey were the founders of carpet making. Turkish carpets are renown for the use of the double knot (Gördes) which was used in the oldest suriving carpets. A carpet is considered to be an antique in Turkey once it is one hundred years old. Twenty to one hundred years is semi antique or just ‘old’, there are also many new carpets being produced by traditional methods. There are many products hand crafted in Turkey, carpets are just one of the pieces. The materials used in the making of pieces are also historic. Local plant life such as roots, beatles and soil are all still used today when dying carpets naturally. Galeri Yunak still supports the local production of carpets. The dyes that colour the carpets that denote this region are: brown, white, grey and black all are natural colours. Why a 'Turkish Carpet' ? Turkish Carpets are unique in the world due to the fact a double knot (görde) is used. The oldest surviving carpets in the world are Turkish, made with the double knot technique. All pieces are individually hand made. Every carpet is unique to the maker and also the region including the dyes and patterns. So come and view the treasures of Turkey at your leisure and enjoy socialising with the pleasures of Turkish hospitality. What is a Carpet? A carpet is a hand made double knotted piece with cut pile, and is made still in a traditional manner of hand knotting on a loom, with natural dyes and materials. Carpets were are still used as wall and floor coverings in tents and homes. Every pattern and symbol upon a carpet has a meaning or tells a story. Pieces often reflect the hopes and desires of the women who created the carpet. What is a Kilim? A kilim is a hand woven piece that is made on a loom. The technique of flat weaving natural fibre. Kilims are used for decoration, floor and wall coverings. Flat weaving means the piece does not have pile (or knots). The vibrant colours, patterns and dyes that make Kilims are equlivalent to those of carpets. Kilims are also made with wool, cotton and silk. The passion, desires and skill of the women who produce Kilims make each piece unique. A Kilim may be used on both sides it is equally attractive (identical) on the reverse side. Who makes them, how, why? Traditionally it is women who make carpets. Entire villages of women collect together to prepare the materials. The material is hand spun by the local women and then dyed with local plants i.e. walnut shells\pomegranate, which have been boiled in huge kettles to create the dye. The textile is then dryed naturally on lines in the sun, it is then ready to be transformed into the beautiful carpets and kilims we treasure today. A 135 cm by 90 cm wool on cotton carpet takes one women approximatley two months to complete. Carpets, Kilims and other pieces have all got a practical use. Carpets were used as coverings for tent floors, walls and doorways. Carpets also add colour and warmth to a room, they are still one of the most effective ways used, to protect us from the cold and damp today. Carpet Regions Galeri Yunak has carpets from all regions of Turkey following is a map and also photographs of some carpets\kilims (pieces) from the different regions. Each region of Turkey has specific designs, materials used and colours\dyes. Even today, these are still specific to each regions' MAP from contempary handmade carpets. Materials Wool The finest wool comes from lambs. This wool has a shine that can not be replicated the lustre is still obvious after the processing from wool to the completed carpet. The wool of sheep is also used and the quality of the wool is dependant upon the health of the sheep. It is imperative that the animals are well nourished to ensure quality wool. The sheep are cleaned in streams before they are sheared. The wool is sheared from the sheep in the spring when the animal is in peak condition. Treatment of the wool is also paramount in providing quality, wool is cleaned in the purest water before being spun both mechanically and by hand. The wool used in Turkish carpets is cultivated in Turkey. The longest lasting, hardest wearing carpets are wool on wool. Cotton Cotton is also cultivated in Turkey. Cotton is harvested in autum and graded for quality. Cotton is then cleaned and mechanically spun. After spinning the cotton is dyed - usually by chemical methods, occasionally by natural methods in kettles with root dyes. Cotton dyes very successfully. When cotton is used as the warp theads in a carpet it is usually not dyed, but left in its natural state. Cotton is used in kilims and other flat weaved pieces as the warp threads and occasionally as the weft weave or embroidery. Wool on cotton is also hard wearing. Silk It is believed the original silk worms were smuggled into Turkey from China (5 AD). Silk is produced from the cocoons which are softened in boiling water. The thread from the dismantled cocoon can range from 800 to 1200 meters. Approximatley 25 cocoons are spliced to form a single thread. The thread is then twisted, washed and dyed. Bursa is the area of silk production. There are two regions in Turkey that produce silk carpets - Hereke and Kayseri. Silk carpets are of the highest quality and are renown as the ‘magic’ carpets of Turkey. The Double Knotted Technique (Gördes knot) is used on silk carpets. Turkish silk carpets have the highest amount of knots per square centimetre. The number of knots per square centimetre is usually 64 or 81 although a quality carpet may have 144 or 196 knots per square centýmetre. Silk thread is also used for embroidery. Silk carpets are of the highest quality of workmanship. Often called the ‘magic’ carpets of Turkey. Pieces can be created with many variations of warp and weft. For example the warp threads on a loom could be cotton and the knots or weft of the carpet may be wool. Some variations are : Wool on Wool Wool on Cotton Cotton on Cotton Silk on Silk Silk on Cotton Silk Floss Silk Floss is an unnatural fibre used to imitate silk pieces. It easily retains dye and can therefore support a wide range of colours. Its strength is equivalent to other materials. Dyes There are two forms of dyes natural and chemical. With natural dyes it is often impossible to produce particular colours which is why, over the centuries, carpet regions have been denoted by their dyes \ colours in their pieces. The colours relate to the local environment. (i.e. plant life soil and insects.) An indicator of the natural dying process is the uneven colour of pieces. It is usual to get light and dark areas due to different batches of dye and also due to the saturation of the material. Chemical dyes are more effective and uneven colour does not occur. Chemical dyes also eliminate the colour boundaries enabling any dye colour. A piece compiled with chemical dyes will be prone to fading. Care and cleaning Dust : Your carpet requires certain care. Your carpet will over a period of time collect dust, it is advisable to regularly vacum your carpet. It is also advisable to turn your carpet over for a few days and walk on it to loosen the dust that has collected at the base of the knots before vacuming it. Wiping your carpet once a year with one bucket of water and a glass of vinegar will refresh the colour. Damp : The greatest enemy of a carpet is damp. Approximately every two years your carpet may require cleaning, it is advisable to have your carpet professionally cleaned. Your carpet should never be left damp, or left in a damp environment. If you are not using your carpet store it in a dry place wrapped in newspapper. Do not put your carpet in direct sunlight. Stains : Take care not to rub the carpet in the reverse direction of the knots. Mud : Dry the stain well and then vacum clean. Ink : Sponge with alcohol. Beer : Damp sponge with an alcohol and water mixture. Red wine : Clean with white wine, and sponge with water. Sweets : Lightly sponge with warm water. Pet urine : Sponge while the stain is damp, leave to dry, later, wipe with white wine vinegar. Blood : Never use hot water, firstly sponge then wipe with cold salty water. Egg : Never use hot water. Sponge with ammonia and water mixture. Coffee, Tea : Glycerine mixed with egg yolk spread. Chocolate : Sponge with warm water.

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