5-  Age :

The age of the carpet is its guarantee. A carpet that has been used for fifty years

and is still in good shape has proved itself. A good carpet becomes more beautiful with time, while a bad carpet disintegrates into oblivion. Thus an old carpet is generally preferred over a new one. Because it is difficult to find old carpets in good condition, they have antique value and are more expensive than new ones.

Now let’s talk about kilims. The same factors that determine the quality of a

carpet count for kilims also. Only the weaving of certain types of kilims is more difficult, more time cosuming and resulting in a more durable and decorative product. Although kilims are cheaper at the moment, they might become more expensive than carpets in the future. There are three types of kilims :

1-      Normal kilims

2-      Cicim kilims

3-      Soumak kilims

Normal kilims are made by weaving in and out of the warp, leaving slits whenever there is a colour change.

            Cicim kilims are made by two people simultaneously. One weaves the background, while the second person weaves the design on top ( there are no slits ).

            Soumak kilims are made by one person who simultaneously weaves the background and the embroidered pattern. This type is only woven in certain regions by the most skilled women, therefore they are quite rare and expensive.

            The desings of the kilims are similar to carpet designs and the symbols have the same meaning.

            As a result, both carpets and kilims are a culmination on of the skill and artistry of women and are our most beautiful traditional items.

            B- Stages Of Quality Control :

            Carpets and kilims when woven  on the loom come out as semi-finished products. Thus, there are several stages for them to be converted into a finished product.

            First a burning process is applied to the reserve side of the carpet. Here the excess fluff is eliminated and the quality of the raw material is tested.

            This process is followed by the washing which helps to test the type of dye being used and to show if there is any running of colour. The washing also shows up any

“ Abrash “ if present.

            After washing there is the drying process for a specific time under the sun. This is also a sensitivity test of the colours towards sunlight. Then follows the cutting process where the pile of the carpet is levelled out. The last stage is a cleaning one where the product is revolved in wooden cabinets ( a type of centrifuge ) to get rid of the last dust and dirt. This also serves as an endurance test. Thus, after the product comes from the loom, these additional processes lead to a fully elaborated and finished product which has also gone through a series of quality control tests.

  

            C- K System :

            The significiant elements that determine the quality of the carpet are the materials, the labour, the dye, the design, the age and the washing process. Any defects in one of the these elements will reduce the quality of the product. In the market all carpets are made

differently and each needs to be evaluated according to all these elements. Thereby we have different qualities of carpets and of course different values of carpets. To provide a standardized product, it takes knowledge, experience and specialized tests performed in suitably equipped centres. In these centres every carpet after completing all the stages of quality control, is assessed and its value is determined. Therefore, this K-System provides a basis upon which each rug’ s value can be determined for proper market presentation.