hand knotted Turkish rugs
How To Buy Turkish Rugs
Turkey is a
beautiful country. From its all alluring beauty to the busy streets of the
Grand Bazaar is a sight to behold. Visiting Turkey can be once in a lifetime
experience for many people. One thing that stands out the most are the handknotted Turkish rugs. Rugs are being made in Turkey for centuries. You can
find rugs and carpets of many ages, sizes and extravagant
colors.
The
knowledge about these hand knotted Turkish rugs is not much for someone who is
inexperienced in buying rugs. Here is a guide for buying a Turkish rug.
1. Spotting a Good Quality Rug
The best
carpets are the ones that are made of wool or silk or sometimes a blend of
both. They are the genuine rugs that are being made from centuries. The cheaper
ones are mostly made up of cotton and you can tell the difference by touching
them. Pure silk carpets are very thin and smooth and the most expensive
material. The blend of wool and cotton is not worth it. Check for the thickness
of the vertical threads which needs to be thicker than the horizontal ones. The
color is also a key factor. If the underside of the rug is richer in color it
means that the carpet is old, and the color has faded with time. Older carpets
are more valuable.
2. Get Aware of the Price
Although,
the Turkish salesmen are very engaging and friendly who will make you buying
experience fun, there are still some of them who aren’t as honest as others. Be
aware of the prices and keep your bargaining game strong. Never tell them the
budget because they will try to get as much money as they can get out of you.
Istanbul has more expensive carpets than Cappadocia. A difference of up to 20%
in price is out there.
3. Type of Carpet You Want
Decide what
type of rug you want to get. Essentially there are four types of hand knotted
Turkish rugs namely hah, cicim or jeejim, kilim and sumac. The hah carpets are
the generic, thick carpets due to their double knotted origins. The kilim are
the ones that have basic flat weaving throughout. Cicim are like kilim but
their flat weaving is wrapped. The sumac is a blend if cicim and kilim, but it
is backed up with embroidery. These carpets can range from prayer rugs to the
carpets to fit inside your living rooms.
4. The Style and Motif
This is
probably the most important one. The reason to buy a carpet. Hand knotted
Turkish rugs are ladened with vibrant colors and shapes/symbols. Most people
don’t know what they mean. Truth is; every shape has a story embedded with each
weave of the thread. The story or message can be of peace and liberty, life or
death, love, beauty or elegance. Your knowledge of these shapes can impact
heavily on the preference of these carpets.
The hand knotted Turkish rugs are one of the most beautiful
pieces of artifacts that have been gifted to us by history. These precautions
can guarantee you buying the best carpet from Turkey you desire.
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