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.