HEREKE carpets made of pure silk, represent the ultimate in finesse and delicacy within the antique Turkish rug production of the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They draw their inspiration from traditionally Anatolian and Perisan court Safavid carpets. In the mid-1800?s, Sultan Abdulmecid of the Ottoman Empire established an imperial manufactory in the town of Hereke. He recruited the best weavers and artists in the land to produce fine carpets Until the political revolution in 1923, Hereke carpets were exclusively manufactured for Sultans, palaces or mosques. Hereke carpets were often given as gifts from Sultans to other great Kings, Emporers and rulers. It's estimated that even smaller Hereke rugs have taken weavers one year to complete. These magnificent rugs use the finest materials and the most exquisite patterns. Hereke carpets are traditionally made with a combination of silk, cotton and wool. The extravagant materials and curvilinear patterns are often accented with shimmering gold and metallic silver threads. Hereke rugs are known for both small art carpets and opulent palace-sized rugs.