Carpets, which are an integral part of home decoration, are offered for sale in different qualities and price ranges according to the material and production technique used. One of these ranges is luxury carpets. Of course, when it comes to luxury carpets, silk carpets come to mind first. With their rich designs, silk carpets, which adapt to all different spaces and create a special combination with all other items, also bring the chance of use for many years with their quality material structure. So why are silk carpets luxurious?
From Marco Polo to this time, silk has been the indispensable raw material of weaving for all countries and people have traveled a long way from China to Europe in order to reach this. The birth of silk, which is a miracle even in its formation, begins with the cocoon that the silkworm makes around itself. It is turned into a rope after long processes. Then it is started to be woven to be a carpet. Considering that 1 m2 silk carpet is woven in about 4 to 6 months, we can better understand why silk carpets are so luxurious.
Silk Carpets: Indicators of Luxury
Silk carpet models are among the most special carpets compared to other carpet types. These carpets, which have different types of weaving, are produced using a special yarn. In order for the carpet to be a silk carpet, it must be woven on a special loom using a quality yarn containing silk. In addition, silk carpet woven without any additives is the most valuable type of carpet. The value of the carpet woven with pure silk thread is higher. In particular, handwoven carpets are more valuable in terms of both hand workmanship and price.
Silk carpets are woven in a limited number of regions in the world. Although the type of carpet woven on handicrafts is less, weaving continues in some regions. Silk carpet weaving is practically done in many regions of the world. However, more professional studies are carried out on silk carpet weaving in some regions. For this reason, hand-woven is different. Another difference is the price difference of carpets woven with a machine.
Hand-loomed carpets are more difficult to weave than machine-made carpets because they are both laborious and demanding more detail. For this reason, the price of carpets woven on handlooms is higher than other carpets. In this case, handmade carpets are considered more valuable. Silk carpet prices may vary depending on these weaving techniques. Silk carpet is a type of carpet that is woven with more effort than other carpet types.
Among the carpet weaving techniques, there are weaving techniques known as double loop and single loop. If there is density in the pattern of the carpet to be woven, one of these weaving techniques is selected and carpet weaving is done. However, weaving the carpet as a double knot and cutting off the excess with hand scissors is more preferred in terms of longer use of the carpet.
In silk carpet weaving, post-weaving loops stabilizing apparatus are used. Carpet knives and hand scissors are also used during carpet weaving. Silk is an extremely valuable type of yarn because it is a scarce raw material. It is produced in certain places and it is not a type of yarn that is easy to process. For this reason, both the weaving and the scarcity of yarn distinguish silk carpets from other carpets in terms of both price and value.
Another important point is that the carpet yarn is dyed with natural dyes. Since these dyes are special dyes obtained from plant roots, they increase the quality of carpet weaving immensely. These details should be considered when choosing a carpet. Carpet woven with cheap yarn is a choice that will harm those who prefer it both in terms of health and in terms of service life.
Silk carpet should be chosen from the correct addresses. For this, you can do detailed research and get detailed information about silk carpets from the online stores, which have been experts in their fields for years and prefer first-class productions of the highest quality and workmanship.
Luxury Silk Carpet Models
Silk is one of the most precious carpet types because it is a very difficult thread to produce, and carpet weaving requires a lot of delicacies. Since silk has been an indispensable yarn for all cultures since history, carpets are also valuable products. For this reason, silk carpets are the most special carpets among carpets. Silk carpet models and prices also vary depending on the place of production, the model of the carpet, the number of loops woven, and even how long it is.
Silk carpet is a weaving product in many cities. However, the price may vary depending on the region where it is woven. The fact that the quality of the carpets of that region is well known plays a big role in this situation. Silk rugs are woven over a long period of time. Therefore, its workmanship is extremely demanding. Thus, silk carpets are the most valuable and different in price compared to other carpet types.
Silk carpets are incredibly stylish and flashy. Before buying silk carpets, you should definitely do preliminary research for the models you have in mind. When you want to buy silk carpets, you can ask your questions about these models via online stores. Since silk carpet weaving is one of the most difficult carpet types, the price may be a little high. However, you can buy silk carpets at extremely affordable prices by following the campaigns that are organized in certain periods.
Silk rugs are delicate carpets as well as being flamboyant and valuable. It is absolutely necessary to get professional help during the cleaning process. Due to the structure of silk, silk carpets are generally produced with a thinner and delicate weaving technique. Since silk is a sensitive type of yarn, it is necessary to protect the carpets and be careful while cleaning them. Choosing a carpet by getting information about silk carpet models and prices will be a healthier shopping experience.
There are many silk carpet types that left their mark in 2020. Especially the bamboo silk hand-woven carpet model is one of the most preferred products of this year. Another type of carpet is the Tibetan carpet, which is handwoven with fine patterns. This carpet is designed for an elegant appearance due to its fine pattern. Among the silk carpet types, the best carpet type, which is slightly different in price compared to other carpets, is the handwoven Persian carpet. In this carpet type, works such as flower patterns and small patterns attract attention. Silk carpet models are rich in variety. These carpets produced in certain regions of the world always maintain their value.
Silk Carpet Weaving
After the completion of the fence and rug knitting, such as making the warp that forms the skeleton of the silk carpet on the carpet loom and tying the knitting power tree, knots are started. It is determined that the knotting of silk carpets is done in a way to wrap both warp wires and with a left-start Turkish knot. However, on silk carpets that are woven in very few numbers, a Persian knot shape called “single knot” is also encountered.
The knotting process is completed when the knitting power is on its upper side and close to the knitting power of the wooden lath placed between the cross made by the warp wires. A cotton thread is then passed through the rows of warp threads and beaten with a special tool made of iron. This is done so that the knots are well placed in the warp wires. After the knitting process, a thick silk weft thread is tied to one end of the cotton trimming thread and the cotton thread is pulled back. Thus, the silk weft thread, which takes the place of the cotton thread between the warp threads, is this time broken strongly.
After that, the lath is raised and this time thin silk weft thread is passed in the same direction as the thick weft, and it is slightly cracked. In order for the shed to fit well, the cotton correction thread is passed over the shed again, and this time it is broken strongly together. Before the second knotting row, the knot ends are cut with special silk carpet scissors and the woven part is smoothed.
After the carpet is woven in the desired size, its fence and rug knitting is completed as it was originally done and the carpet is finished. In the carpet finished in this way, the appropriate length of fringe is left and the warp threads are removed from the loom after being cut with scissors. In silk carpet knots, Gördes knot and a mixed loop close to the cine knot called physician knot are preferred. The number of knots in silk carpets changes as 90×90, 100×100, 8.100×10.000.
Hereke carpets, which are the finest silk rugs in the world today, have gained a great reputation for these features. The standard density of fine silk carpets currently produced is 10×10 = 100 knots. Since the number of knots in a carpet per 1 cm² is accepted as a measure for the fineness of the carpet, it constitutes the density norm of that type. In recent years, by taking advantage of technical possibilities, the standard fineness is taken further with technological weaving forces and the number of knots is 24×24 = 576. These fine and similar carpets take on a wonderful fabric air. All these works are the pride of Turkish Carpet art and masterpieces of collective work.
Things to Know About Luxury Hand Woven and Silk Carpets
If people have not done extensive research on the carpet, they only know about the basics. It has always been known that hand-woven carpets or silk carpets are expensive. However, the reason for this is unknown to many people. The high value of handwoven or silk carpets depends on some factors, and if these factors are not in question, their value will not be that high. People who are considering purchasing hand-woven carpets can buy a standard carpet even though they pay very high fees.
If you want to buy hand-woven carpets instead of buying standard quality intense gray yellow, you need to know what to look for. Otherwise, your money may be wasted. The first feature that distinguishes hand-woven carpets from machine carpets is the loop structure. The loop structures are completely different in these two carpet types. In hand-woven carpets, the loop process is made by tying each pair of warp threads placed on the loom with pile threads. The pile threads are formed by tying knots regularly.
It is not possible to talk about this on machine carpets. Loops are not used to create piles in machine carpets. When the hand-woven carpet and a craft white terra carpet are examined, it will be easily understood that the loop structures are completely different. After seeing the difference, you can first examine the loop structure of the rugs claimed to be hand-woven. Many people do not care about the back of the carpet when purchasing a carpet. Everyone devotes time to the visible part of the carpet.
After learning whether the back part of the carpets is non-slip or not, the interest in this part is completely cut. The back of the carpets can give very clear information. For this reason, it will be necessary to always look behind the carpets when buying hand-woven carpets. When you look at the back of the machine carpets, you will see traces of stitches in an extremely regular and smooth structure. However, this is not the case with hand-woven carpets. Contrary to the order in a gray-blue machine-made carpet, the hand-woven carpet has irregularities on the back. The knots of the thrown loops can be seen from the back.
Quality of Luxury Hand Woven and Silk Carpets
The fact that the carpet is handwoven does not prove that it is a quality carpet. If synthetic yarns are used in carpets, the quality of the carpets can still be at standard levels. Instead of poor quality hand-woven carpets, craft beige yellow machine carpets will be a much more correct choice. For quality hand weaving, it is essential to look at the yarns at all times. Handwoven carpets do not have to be silk. Quality hand-woven carpets can be produced using other natural threads.
It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the yarn used is natural, long-lasting, and not used before. Hand-woven carpets made from yarns that do not have these properties do not have sufficient quality. If you have decided to buy handwoven, the easiest and most accurate way to understand the quality is to look at the knot density. The higher the knot density of the carpets, the higher the quality of the carpet. If you are going to use hand-woven carpets instead of using river lilac carpets in your homes, you should always choose the one with a high knot density when comparing carpets made from the same yarn.
Since you do not have experience with carpets, you may have difficulty understanding knot tightness. In order to understand this, you need to examine the carpet by turning it upside down. Since some knots can be seen from the back of the carpet, the higher the number of these knots, the higher the quality of the carpet. If you are looking for a clearer examination, the more pronounced the pattern on the back of the carpet, the more knot density.
The shape of the knots made in the yarns during the production of the carpets is also important. When it comes to hand-woven carpets, Turkish and Persian carpets always come to the fore. The meeting of these two states also takes place in the form of a loop. If a hand-woven carpet is to be purchased instead of a machine carpet, the back of the carpet should be turned and look at the shape of the knot. There are two different knot types, the Turkish knot, and the Persian knot. After looking at the shape of these knots, you can examine the carpet and understand which knot shape it has.
The Turkish knot lasts longer than the Persian knot. For this reason, if you prefer carpets with Turkish knots, you will buy a much more accurate product. Everyone knows that handwoven carpets are expensive. People know that they will have to pay a much higher price when they turn to hand-woven carpets instead of buying machine-made carpets. But it would be a huge mistake to shop without knowing how high it is.
Addresses that sell hand-woven carpets should be visited and prices should be examined. Hand-woven carpets can be sold at very exorbitant prices since they are not easily available. Although the quality of the two hand-woven carpets is the same, serious differences may occur in their prices.
How to Understand Antique Luxury Carpets Are Real?
- Carpet age
Today, in order for a carpet to be antique, it must be over 100 years old. Reaching a complete and definite result in determining the age of the carpet is only possible with the date information woven on the carpet or rug. Many of the old carpets and rugs contain such historical information.
- Material used
The materials used in old carpets show local characteristics. For this reason, the material and quality used is an auxiliary element in the determination and definition of the weaving region. These materials can be wool, mohair, cotton, silk, and floss (rayon).
- Dyes used
In order for a carpet to be antique, it must be root dyed. Due to the primitive dyeing methods in madder colors, tone differences are observed in the same color. As the carpets get older, they lose a certain amount of color depending on whether the dyeing process is done properly; but they do not get a bad appearance, on the contrary, they mature and take on an even more beautiful appearance.
It is also possible to find out the age of some carpets in terms of the dyes used. Chemical dyes in carpet weaving began to be used in the early 1900s. These types of dyes are not similar to madder in their appearance. While root dyes generally give vivid and living colors, chemical dyes are more homogeneous and matte.
- Colors used
The colors used in old carpets generally have a very close relationship with the vegetation and traditions of that region. For example, the use of the brown color obtained from acorn and turning into a sweet mustard color, and the use of “indigo” blue in some regions are features unique to these regions. In addition, the fact that the colors used in some regions are not used after a certain period is another criterion that will enlighten us about the age of the carpet. The fact that the yellow color was not used in certain carpets after the 18th century and the dark blue color after the 20th century can be given as an example.
- Weaving technique
Although the method is the same, technically there are differences in weaving between regions. This situation generally arises from the application of the weft insertion technique in different ways. In addition, features such as rug width, decorations, fringe weave, edge weave, and colors vary between regions.
- Measure
They can give information about the dimensions, the region where the carpets are woven, and their intended use. The square dimensions of certain carpets are characteristic. Large size carpets are found in some carpets since the 16th century, apart from the 13th century Seljuk rugs. For centuries, nomadic and resident nomads have weaved carpets and rugs, as floor and sofa cover, tapestry, and especially prayer rugs in small sizes.
- Infrequency
It should not be forgotten that a hand-woven carpet or rug is unique. Even if it is a similar one, it is not possible to be exactly the same. Some carpets have remained in good condition for many years, depending on the way of use and where they are used. Some of them have survived to the present day only in very few numbers for various reasons. For example; Since the Greeks burned Gördes, only those rare Gördes rugs that were sent abroad have survived to this day. Therefore, Gördes carpets are one of the rare carpets.
- Carpet condition
A used carpet definitely gets old and worn over time. Aging begins with fringe and rug; If precautions are not taken, the knotted part will be dismantled and the carpet will gradually disappear. Superficial wear is seen later. Especially the places that are exposed to more contact (such as the head and foot parts of prayer rugs) wear more. For this reason, it is not possible for an old carpet to be in good condition in all aspects. The carpets that were used only as tapestries and protected from moth have survived to our day in perfect condition (intact).
Therefore, it is very common for an old or antique carpet to be repaired. The fact that the damaged parts of the carpets have been repaired skillfully with the appropriate material, color, and weaving technique without disturbing the integrity of the carpet, does not lose anything of its value. In addition, carpets with a very high antique value but that are too damaged or destroyed are called “fragments” and they are very valuable pieces.
- Appraisal
Old and antique carpets are unique, non-reproducible, not bought and sold every day, and therefore have no specific price. In this respect, the values of this type of carpet are relative to other antique items. Knowledge, manners, and experience also play a major role in appreciation. A carpet that a person has used in his home for years and is tired of seeing is not of much value for that person, but it can be of high value for a person who is knowledgeable about it and is interested in the carpet.
Differences Between Luxury Carpets: Silk and Wool
When choosing carpets to be used in homes, many different factors are taken into consideration. The materials used in the production of the carpet are among the factors to be considered when purchasing the carpet. The reason for this is that the preferred yarn type affects different areas. When talking about carpet, wool and silk carpets come to mind first. Most of the carpets used in homes and workplaces are wool carpets. However, silk carpets are also products that attract attention with their quality. The differences between silk carpets and wool carpets are examined under three main headings. These titles can be listed as follows;
- Cost,
- Durability,
- Ease of cleaning.
Silk, obtained from silkworm larvae with the same name, is an extremely valuable fiber. After the silkworm larvae are specially grown, they are collected and subjected to various processes. These processes are extremely long and demanding processes. However, the difficulty of the process makes silk a more valuable fiber. Silk carpets are also carpets produced using silk. As a matter of fact, wool is also used in the weaving stage of most silk carpets. However, since a significant amount of silk is used, the carpets are called silk carpets.
The most used material in hand-woven carpets is wool. Although different types of yarn have been produced for carpet production in recent years, most of the carpets we see around us are made of wool. As is known, wool is a material obtained from sheep. After the sheep are fed and raised, the wool on them is cut and used in carpet production. The quality of wool may vary depending on the type of sheep, breeding style, and diet.
Cost is always at the forefront when deciding on the carpets to be purchased. People will never be in a position to accept to buy a carpet, regardless of the price. Because carpets are products with completely open ends and can be at unbelievable prices. It is a highly preferred product in wool carpet production. Although it has a lower price than silk, it cannot be said to be a cheap product.
Silk carpets, on the other hand, are divided into two as silk or a silk-wool mixture. The higher the silk ratio in the carpet, the higher the cost. It is not very possible to set an upper or lower limit. However, they are always much more expensive than wool carpets. The apartment carpet models to be purchased should have important features in terms of durability. If carpets are worn, expectations can be met spectacularly. Wool carpets are very durable and people manage to use a quality wool carpet for 50 years with correct use. Deep cleaning once on the road will be enough for maintenance.
Silk carpets, on the other hand, are much less durable products. It should be used in areas where the traffic on it is not very heavy. Many people prefer to use silk rugs by hanging them on the walls. Thus, it will be able to preserve its structure for much longer. People who will use silk carpets should also know that they will not wash too much. These very attractive carpets should be kept clean and not spend too much time on them.
Wool carpets and silk carpets are also different in terms of ease of cleaning. If it is necessary to start with wool carpets first, they will need to be vacuumed regularly. Under normal conditions, it is sufficient to vacuum twice a month. However, if it is used a lot, its frequency increases. Wool carpets are not completely cleaned while being vacuumed. For this reason, it should be washed 1-2 times a year. Professional companies can successfully complete their washing process. For this reason, it would be the right choice to deliver the carpet to the companies.
In silk carpets, wetting of the carpet has extremely negative effects on durability. When any liquid is spilled, it should be dried as soon as possible. This situation also arises serious problems during the washing phase of the carpet. If the silk antique carpet models used are stained, immediate intervention is required. However, steam or hot water will damage the carpet. It is always necessary to use natural cleaning materials. If the efforts are insufficient and the stain is not removed, it should not be forced. It will be the best decision to apply to professional cleaning companies in this regard.
The Most Luxurious Carpets That You Can Buy Online
