Carpets restored to life by the magic touch of a needle

In the restoration ateliers located in many parts of Turkey,

old, worn out carpets of historical and antique value are restored to life.

From Bukhara to Bergama. Turkic floor coverings have attained world-wide recognition for excellence for centuries. And. today, as an extension of this handicraft, mastery in the an of carpel restoration is conferring added renown to Turkey. Located in many parts of the country, ateliers dedicated to the mending and restoration of carpets are revitalizing the old and weary carpets delivered to their door from all parts of the country. Attentive to even the most minor detail and safeguarding the value of the carpet, thousands of expert craftsmen and masters repair historical and antique carpets in the light of their comprehensive knowledge accumulated by long experience. In these workshops, carpet restoration is approached in the same manner and with methods identical to chase applied by the original makers of the carpet: the wool is spun by hand, the yarn is dyed by natural dyes, and the new portions are created to match the old. The carpets brought in for repair and maintenance are thus granted the opportunity of reclaiming their former beauty.

Numerous shops active in restoration and repair work are located throughout Turkey, but they are particularly concentrated in Istanbul, Izmir. Konya and the town of Sultanhan in the province of Aksaray. These workshops faithfully restore old rugs and kilims to their original condition. The most important element in the repair of rugs and kilims is the correct diagnosis, because not every carpet is restorable. Furthermore, the owner of the carpet may request a special type of repairwork. The decision regarding the restoration of the carpet is arrived at by consulting with the customer over Internet and the work is carried out in the light of a mutually satisfactory decision.

The initial consideration taken up by the master craftsmen is the determination of the material required by the carpet. It is imperative that a suitable match be located. The kind of wool or other material and the twist of the yarn are identified. Color decisions are taken and executed by master dyers. Prior to embarking on the final stage, a small test area is restored and, if approval is granted by the master, the repair work may commence. Restoration work is slow, but the repairer who knows his job mends without damaging any part of ihe original floor covering and devotes special attention to the color, the type of weave, and any defects in the pattern or weft yarns. On the completion of this stage, the carpet is subjected to a final check and finishing. Training in the atelier is carried out exclusively on the basis of a master-apprentice relationship. The master wishes to teach all that he knows but what is important is that the apprentice carefully observe the master at work and learn all the ins and outs of the trade. Training begins by learning to thread the needle and next moves on to the art of knotting. Starting by memorizing the motifs in the carpet, the apprentice ends by capitulating to the charms of the craft. A colloquial saying in this regard claims that "One who inhales the dust of the carpet never abandons the trade." Those who manage to grasp the finer points of the art in the course of the lengthy apprentice period typically go on to open their own workshop.

!n the 1900s, Istanbul, where numerous ateliers were in operation, represented one of the leading carpetmaking centers. Young men who had left their provincial homes lo learn this craft in Istanbul subsequently introduced this trade to their home towns. At present, hundreds of workshops that repair rugs comprise a large organization in Anatolia, with one of the chief centers situated in the Izmir area. In Sultanhan alone, 2,000 men are actively employed in the operation of 150 shops engaged in the mending of carpets. The phenomenon of rug restoration is rejuvenating the old rug and kilim market. If an old and disintegrating carpet is capable of being repaired, the necessary repairs will be carried out; or in the case of a carpet so worn chat its continued use in the customary spot is unfeasible, for instance, it may be mended for the purpose of serving as a wall hanging. In both cases, a prized carpet may be rescued from an unhappy end.

Carpets sent to Turkey for repair are classified on the basis of their dye type-natural, chrome, or acid. Worn and deteriorated areas are reworked knot by knot. The patterns are restored with a faithful regard for the integrity of the motifs. Restored portions undergo special processing to make the new imperceptible from the old. The outcome is the conservation of the original carpet. At present, the restoration of Turkish, Persian, Afghan, Chinese, and European carpets is being successfully conducted in Turkey.

The rug-mending sector is a candidate for an increased growth in the use and enjoyment of old carpets and kilims. Twenty years ago, restoration was an option chosen only by collectors for their costly acquisitions, but today people from all walks of life are deciding in favor of restoring new life to old rugs and kilims. On the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, numerous old carpets located in the Caucasus and the Turkic republics were sent to Istanbul. These carpets, after being washed and mended, were exported to points all over the globe. It was at this juncture that the carpet menders of Anatolia came into action. Once repaired, the rugs and kilims that had effected a temporary halt in their passage to the outside world began to be exported. A number of carpet showrooms in Europe and the U.S. now proudly display the handiwork of Anatolian restoration craftsmen. Turkey is ready to satisfy a new round of requests from rug merchants around the world for the application of their skill and rare to the restoration of new iife to old masterpieces.

Text & Photos : Utku Tonguc TOPAL