Go Carpet Shopping at the Grand Baazar in Istanbul
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If you are looking for some amazing souveniers to remember your time in Turkey, be sure to check out the Grand Baazar. The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. There are also plenty of great shops all over the old city of Istanbul to check out and no shortage of carpet shops to choose from. Turkey is famous for their handmade carpets and it can be a challenge to leave the country without purchasing one. Before you go, be sure to learn the finer points about carpets so you will know what to look for!
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Everything You Need to Know About Turkish Carpets
Materials The materials used in Turkish carpets arewool, cotton and silk. Wool on wool carpets have been around the longest, have the most authentic designs and are usually the least expensive because of the low knot counts due to the fact that wool cannot be spun finely. Wool on cotton permits more intricate designs than wool on wool because cotton can be spun finer allowing a higher knot count. Silk on silk is the most intricate type of carpet with the finest weaveand often the most expensive. Regions Bergama – Made in the town of Bergma, these carpets are usually 3 – 4 meters square andoriginate in the 14th to 15th century. The carpets are made of wool giving them a lifespan of under 200 years; some of the oldest surviving carpets can be found in mosques and the archaeological museum in Bergama. |
This video was shot in a carpet shop in Goreme in Cappadocia
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Usak –The city of Usak has produced carpets for centuries; in the 15thcentury they were imported by Europeans to decorate churches and the homes ofthe upper class. The region still produces carpets today.
Milas – Carpets from the region of Milas can be distinguished by their designs and colors (brown, reddish brown and dark yellow) and designs. Wool is usually the material of choice while natural colors (such as yellow obtained from peach and apricot trees, brown extracted from walnut leaves and green from mint leaves) are preferred. Wool is turned black by leaving it in the ground for a week.
Kilim – Kilims are flat woven tapestry carpets used mainly for decoration or as prayer mats. A kilim rug looks the same on both sides.
Milas – Carpets from the region of Milas can be distinguished by their designs and colors (brown, reddish brown and dark yellow) and designs. Wool is usually the material of choice while natural colors (such as yellow obtained from peach and apricot trees, brown extracted from walnut leaves and green from mint leaves) are preferred. Wool is turned black by leaving it in the ground for a week.
Kilim – Kilims are flat woven tapestry carpets used mainly for decoration or as prayer mats. A kilim rug looks the same on both sides.
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Hereke – In the late 1800’s, the Turkish government invited the most skilled carpet weaversto move to Hereke and they soon gained the reputation of being the finest carpet weavers in the world. Carpets from this region reside in palaces and castles in Anatolia and Europe and are very rare because there is no longer carpet weaving society in Hereke. Many of the weavers placed a signature H in the corner of a finished piece to identify it as a Hereke original masterpiece.
Characteristics Type of Dye – Carpets can be made of natural or chemical dyes. Natural dyes do not bleed when they get wet and they generally last longer. To test if the dyes are natural, rub a damp white cloth against the carpet and if the cloth turns color then the dye is chemical. Carpets made of natural dye are more expensive. Most silk carpets are made of chemical dyes. Type of Wool – Dead wool is cut after the sheep had died and is harsh and rough having lost its naturals oils while live wool is sheaved from a live sheep thus retaining its natural oils. Most Turkish Carpets are made of live wool. Method of Spinning – Machine spun wool is tighter hence the wool is not as strong since many of the wool fibres snap limiting the lifespan of the carpet. Hand spun wool takes longer and is more expensive but the carpet has a much longer lifespan. The way to tell how it is spun is to flip the carpet over and look at the weave. If the tiny squares are all the same size it is machine spun and if they are different sizes it is hand spun. Hand spun carpets are harder to find than machine spun. |
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For tips on visiting Turkey CLICK HERE
For tips on visiting the Middle East CLICK HERE
For general travel tips on what to pack and how to plan ahead CLICK HERE
For tips on travelling on a budget CLICK HERE
For tips on visiting the Middle East CLICK HERE
For general travel tips on what to pack and how to plan ahead CLICK HERE
For tips on travelling on a budget CLICK HERE
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Where I Stayed...
Hotel Arcadia Istanbul,Turkey Dr.Imran Oktem Caddesi No:1 Sultanahmet 34400 Istanbul Tel: 90-212-519 96 96 Website: www.hotelarcadiaistanbul.com Email: [email protected] Hotel Hali Klodfarer Caddesi No:20 Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey Tel: 0090. 212. 5162170 Website: www.halihotel.com Email: [email protected] |
