Hi everyone,
I recently acquired a small prayer rug and I'm hoping for some opinions on where it was made and it's probable age. The rug measures 36" x 22" and the foundation is cotton, with a blue weft. The pile has a very silky feel and sheen. I took it to the local rug shop where I have rugs cleaned and the shop proprietor thought it was a combination of silk and cotton or wool. He scraped the surface of the rug with his jackknife, rolled the fuzz and lit it with a lighter. It burned/melted like silk but it smelled like burning paper, not hair, which was why he thought the pile is not pure silk.
The rug has some wear but is in overall nice condition. I'm also curious about what the cartouches, top and bottom, might say. If anyone has any insights, I'd really appreciate them.
Thanks in advance!

Thanks for the quick answer. So it probably doesn't have any silk in it at all? The closeup of the corner doesn't show any of the sheen that the rug has . What kind of value would you place on it?

Hi,
from what is visible on the pictures, I would agree with the dealers statement about origin and material. I would say it is a typical turkish Kayseri from the 1950 / 60. Usually the warp and weft are made of cotton. Typical is the Kelim at the end of the rug before the fringes, and at the long sindes of the rug. These rugs often have a pile of Viscose, which is cotton that was washed in a Natron bath. This makes cotton shine like silk. This shine will disappear soon when used. Most of the time, after a professional wash, some of the shine will return.