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Dipti Nair
Doha
Turkey is world renowned for its carpets, and the carpets from a coastal Turkish town called Hereke, are considered the world's best and are masterpieces and collector's items. These carpets have been displayed in iconic locations like the Buckingham Palace, the White House, the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, the Ch'e2teau de Versailles and more.
Salam International Investment Ltd has brought a treat for art lovers with an exhibition of Hereke masterpieces at the Maysaloun Hall at The Gate Mall. The Hereke Exhibition, brought to Qatar through a collaboration with Han Hali Turkey's leading production house of Hereke carpets showcases a stunning collection of the legendary carpets, including a copy of the earliest handmade carpet in the world the Pazaryk.
The history behind these carpets dates back to the 15th Century. The exhibition, which will run for three weeks, will also have live carpet-weaving, where Han Hali's senior weaver will weave a classic pattern called 'Flower of Seven Hills'.
The Gate Mall launched an 'art season' at the beginning of October 2016, and has, in this duration, supported many artistic initiatives. The season will culminate with the end of the Hereke Exhibition.
During the opening, Salam International Deputy COO AbdulSalam Abu-Issa said:"The Gate Mall always tries to have exhibitions and artistic displays to attract customers and loyal guests. We always explore and want to have a differentiation factor regarding this. Hereke is world-renowned and considered one of the best in the world, and so, we had long talks with the owners and eventually they agreed to come here and display their finest pieces. It is actually quite exciting and most people will be very impressed with what we have brought here."
Han Hali owner Erhan Or said:"Hereke carpets have played an important role in the carpet saga. Initially, they were produced to for the Ottoman palaces but slowly their fame spread to other places in Europe. Even now in Europe, most palaces constructed in the 18th Century hold at least a few Hereke pieces. Hereke carpets are important because of the technique of how it is manufactured. These carpets are 100 percent handmade with pure silk and carry 64 knots and over-loops per centimetre."
Senior Weaver Suheyla Sari Yoldas, who was present at the opening and will be at the exhibition everyday, said that the Hereke carpets are a testimony to the patience of the weaver.
"Some of the carpets take up to six years to make, as there are at least one million knots in a finished carpet, which is what makes these intricate and fine designs. It is these double knots and the pure silk that make these carpets different from other carpets. These carpets will last a very long time, people will die but the carpet will live on," she said.
Han Hali, the creators of the carpets have over 25,000 exquisite carpet designs in their collections, including Classical Hereke with fabulous Ottoman motifs, Turkish-Islamic designs and Istanbul Voyage, a picturesque collection of fascinating panoramas of Istanbul. These and many other designs are on display at the exhibition.
The Hereke Carpet exhibition will run till January 31 at The Gate Mall.
