Vintage Silk Hereke Hand-Knotted Rug. Signed. Circa 1970.

Vintage Silk Hereke Hand-Knotted Rug. Signed. Circa 1970.

Beautiful vintage rug depicting Hereke Tree of Life design, one of the most iconic and symbolic motifs in Turkish silk weaving. Hereke rugs are world-renowned for their extreme technical precision, and their talented artisans. The Tree of Life, also known as "The Garden of Paradise," represents hope, vitality, and eternal life. Typically features a gracefully rising tree, plants and foliage, from a central vase or a luminous field (mihrab), with branches often adorned with delicate blossoms and perched birds. This rug with two vases each side, also incorporating Quranic verses as a form of "verbal text" that enhances spiritual and decorative value. These inscriptions are typically found on prayer rugs, which are intended to be hung on walls as sacred art, or used as a prayer rug, rather than stepped upon out of respect for the holy text.

Condition: Excellent. A vintage silk Hereke rug with a smooth, luxurious feel. Genuine Hereke rug with a high knot density, circa 650 KPSI, contributing to the intricate design, smoothness and overall durability. [400+ KPSI considered to be of very high quality/fine, often used for silk or highly detailed Turkish/ Persian rugs]

Dimensions:

Height = 157 cm

Width = 93 cm

*Hereke rugs originate from the small town of Hereke, located just east of Istanbul on the shores of the Marmara Sea. The story begins in 1843, when Sultan Abdülmecid I established the Hereke Imperial Weaving Factory to produce the finest carpets for the Ottoman palaces.