06. Crash Course in Carpets.

This weekend, we attended an invitation-only (see: small) carpet education event at Robert College. Robert College is actually a high-achieving American high school. 100 percent of students there go on to university. Last year, 180 students graduated—with 70% going to secondary schools here in Turkey, the other 30% going to schools abroad such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, MIT, McGill, Edinburgh, and Wellesley. It's an impressive, 65-acre, gated campus in the Arnavutköy neighborhood of Istanbul.

Buying Turkish carpets can be especially daunting—and potentially outrageous—considering the legitimate concerns of rug scamboogery! But the team from Adnan & Hasan gave us helpful hints and guidance, and the weather was picture perfect for an outdoor display.

Hasan and team, showing us examples of
an antique prayer rug (L) and a new prayer rug (R).
Both were outstanding.

We learned about the basic types. Kilim, Soumak, Jijim, Zili, and   pile/ knotted carpets. First, they are all undoubtedly beautiful works of art whether or not you prefer particular colors or patterns. Second, you find out pretty quickly what you're drawn toward.

For the record, we like Soumak. Unfortunately, they're not a reversible style like a standard flat-weave Kilim whose pattern is almost identical front to back. Soumak are not just woven, wool on wool in our case, but are also then hand embroidered on top. The embroidery stitching is tied off and left on the back. Not only is this technique gorgeous, it is supremely durable.

Out of hundreds of carpets brought to the event, Mike and I both fell in love with the following two right away. They were the only ones like them available at the show—so we bought them before the lecture even started. Yay!

We're told that Soumak weaving is the absolute highest quality, far superior to anything that is machine-made. This is because—like most other hand-woven rugs from Turkey and the surrounding area—Soumaks are woven with skills that have been passed down the family line, from generation to generation. It also means that every Soumak rug is unique. No two are alike.

Our first choice.
We immediately loved the detail and colors.

Upon first look, they seem the same.
But the dyes and patterns are definitely different.

We like the basic Kilim style because they're flat and easy to layer, and pack. And apparently we like the Soumak style for its sexy good looks. We have a third we're waiting to purchase upon its arrival from village unknown (we'll get that information when we go to the shop to pick it up). I can see how this rug habit could become addicting if one isn't careful. xx