A rare Hereke carpet,
Turkey, circa 1890.
Signed in the top right corner, with Royal workshop mark.
21ft 10in x 21ft 10in : 665cm x 665cm
An imperial factory for the weaving of various textiles was established in Hereke on the orders of the Grand Vizier Riza Pasha in 1843, though the management was in the hands of the Armenian Dadyan brothers. Records show that the factory was primarily involved in the produce of silk ribbons, upholstery, curtains and fabrics, carpets were not mentioned. Machinery was imported from Europe together with workmen to operate them from Germany, Italy and France. The factory was later handed over to Sultan Abdul Majid (1823-1861), this coincided with the construction and furnishing of the Sultan’s Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul.
With the additional establishment of a school of Arts & Crafts in 1880s and the appointment of Mr.Haugin, a Frenchman, as the Director of Art, new styles were introduced, primarily those of European influence. The weaving of carpets started in 1891 and extremely large carpets were supplied to the numerous palaces. Small rugs, both of wool and silk were given as gifts to visiting dignitaries and Hereke carpets received many prizes and medals for their outstanding quality at various international exhibitions.
The visit to Hereke by the German Kaiser, Wilhelm II in 1898, furthered the reputation of the carpets. He was given numerous gifts of carpets, primarily in the Art Nouveau style, which was especially favored by Sultan Abd-al Hamid. Colours were in lighter shades of lilacs, pinks and creams, they were signed, as in the present example, with the Hereke signature in Arabic characters. Most of the designs for the carpets were a hybrid of Oriental and European origin, though not always successful. In the present example, the design is purely European in influence, taken from 18th century French Lyon silks. The carpet is in remarkable good condition.
Similar carpet: The Vermeil Room, The White House, Washington DC.
Provenance: A private Turkish collection, Istanbul.
