Hand knotting art in Hereke

Already over centuries the fishermen in Hereke used to hand knot carpets for their own requirements, as it is common practice all over the Turk nations. Famousness got the little fishermen’s village, what is located at a beach on the coast of the Marmara Sea, only due to the Royal Court Manufacture, where since the middle of the 19^th century have been knotted the finest silk carpets of the world as well as finest woolen carpets. These exceptionally beautiful and luxurios carpets represent even today the unreached peak of the hand knotting art worldwide.

Sultan Abdulmecid I.,

the Osman Emperior from 1839 – 1861, established in 1844 the Royal Court Manufacture in Hereke, to let produce carpets, canvas, cushions and curtains exclusively for the Ottoman Court. In this time Sultan Abdulmecid I. let build the Dolmabahçe Palace on the coast of the Marmara Sea in Istanbul and he announced that “the biggest palace of the world” also should contain “the finest carpets of the world”.

As reason, why the Royal Court Manufacture was established just in Hereke, the citiziens of Hereke tell the myth that Sultan Abdulmecid I. found the pitoresque bay with the village Hereke during a cruising over the Marmara Sea. It’s told that he was so impressed by the beauty and tranquility of this place and its environment that he decided spontanious to establish the Royal Court Manufacture on this place.

Another one myth tells that Sultan Abdulmecid I. commissioned two Armenians  to build the Royal Court Manufacture in accessible closeness to the Dolmabahçe Palace. The both offset a part of the provided money and builded a secound manufacture in Hereke. While an inspection tour on the Marmara Sea to the actual manufacture, the boat passed by the bay of Hereke and Sultan Abdulmcid I. saw the new building. He asked the both, what that were. To escape the punishment, what they had to espect concerning their unfaithfulness, they told him that they would like to suprise him and that this were the Royal Court Manufacture, which were also closer to Istanbul than the before planned in Izmit...

Abdulmecid I. was not only the instigator of the grandiose Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul and the founder of the Royal Court Manufacture in Hereke, but on the other hand he also was the Sultan of reforms:

“Among others Abdulmecid I. pushed reforms, the most importants ones were: The new-organisation of the army (1843 – 1844); the establishing of a ministry of education, the abolition of the hated and unfair capitation, the suppression of the slave trade as well as different arrangements for a more efficient administration of the government service and for the advancement of the trade” (Source: Wikipedia)

To produce the admirable carpets in the Royal Court Manufacture in Hereke there were assembled the best artists and masters of the art of carpet hand knotting of he Ottoman Empire. The Sultan made it them easy to settle in Hereke through giving them the full right of settlement as well as accepting their full civil rights and through wide tax benefits.

Due to the usage of finest silk from Bursa in warp, weft and knots and due to usage of a special knotting technique the masters of hand knotting art could create the finest carpets of the world, which even today are unique and unmached in their perfection of workmanship, the highest knot densities, in their beauty and rich colouring.

The designs of the Hereke Carpets were drafted by the artists exclusively for the palace. They united in itselves the traditional Anatolic patterns as well as parts of Persian, Mameluk and Egyptian patterns. That is shown in the detail rich and fine work of the floral and animal patterns. Since the 16^th century the display of the Medaillon became common in Anatolian carpets and they were willingly utilized in the Royal Court Manufacture as well as they come accross even today.

First of all the carpets were knotted exclusively for the palace in the Royal Court Manufacture. More than 140 big carpets and 115 prayer rugs, totally more than 15,000 square meters of fine and finest carpets were produced.

During the late 19^th and early 20^th century the knotter in Hereke created their luxurious works almost exclusively for the aristocracy of the Ottoman Empire, for dignataries and heads of states, who came as guests. Finest hand knotted Hereke Carpets were given the Royal Families of Japan, Russia, Germany and England as a gift, whereas the Sultan alone decided about the awarding of these art works.

At the present time, for example, the former President of the United Stats of America Bill Clinton received one of the finest Hereke Carpets as a present during his state visit in Istanbul, Turkey, in December, 1999.

After the end of the Ottoman Empire at the beginning 20^th century the production of the Hereke Carpets almost ground to a halt. Only in the fifty years of the 20^th century began some knot masters in Hereke once more to continue this great tradition. Even today the genuine Hereke Carpets didn’t lost any of their fascination, of their perfection of knotting and displaying the patterns, of their famous richness of colours, their beauty, luxury and elegance. The ownership of a genuine handmade woolen or silk carpet from Hereke is the proudness of the most sophisticated collectors and art connoisseurs all over the world.

We are very pleased to be able to offer to you Hereke Carpets, which are produced in a manufacture in Hereke, where this great tradition is preserved and developed already in the fourth generation.