CARPET DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS

Country\Region: Handmade carpets are identified by the regions where made. In some cases it is the same as the style name.

Style: Often the same as the region, this usually refers to the type of unique pattern of the carpet.

Design: Designs of handmade carpets vary between regions and local customs. More information about the many varieties can be found at www.about-turkey.com/halilang.htm

Foundations: The foundations of a handmade carpet, the weft and warp, which are the vertical and horizontal grid the pile material is knotted with, are usually cotton, wool, silk, or a combination these.

Pile: The material the knots are made with tied to the foundation weft and warp. These are usually wool, silk, or camel hair or a combination of these.

Dyes: These are either chemical or vegetable (natural). Most carpets today use chemical dyes or a mixture of chemical and vegetable. The quality of the dyes applies to both, better quality means more colorfast material.

Origin:

Tribal: Tribal is a carpet made the old fashioned way by a family and friends, usually within a nomadic tribe.

Village: Village is a carpet made by a small business set up in a small town or village where weavers gather to make carpets for sale.

Workshop: Workshops are a decedent of the carpet weaving operations set up by sultans hundreds of years ago. These are large operations employing many weavers and making many large carpets for sale. In all cases the carpets are handmade by expert weavers.

Knots: Two types, the Persian knot and the Turkish knot. Please read about these at www.about-turkey.com/halitech.htm.

Age: Three ages are used:

New: New is a carpet, which has either not been sold before or was returned within the Omar Carpet warranty period and not put into general use.

Used: Used carpets are cleaned and if necessary, reconditioned, before sale. Specific details about the carpet and any work done is included in the carpet's narrative section so you can look at the photograph and make an informed decision. We do not sell worn carpets. Used carpets are covered under our unconditional warranty.

Antique: Antique are carpets older than 75 years. Some carpet dealers will sell you a carpet that is merely well worn and call it "antique". We do not. Any antique carpet is fully described in the carpet's narrative section so you can look at the photograph and make an informed decision. Antique carpets are covered under our unconditional warranty.