The exquisite carpets that have been repaired in these ateliers include pieces from not only İstanbul's Dolmabahçe Palace but also ones belonging to the British royal family.Fahri Solak, owner of the Sultansaray Carpet Atelier, told the Anatolia news agency that while in the past the town had been famous for its own carpets and rugs, these days it is known more for carpet repair. Solak noted that the nearly 50 ateliers in Sultanhan employ around 1,000 workers and that carpets come from around the world to be repaired here. "Damaged and worn carpets from Germany, England and the US are sent to our town, which is known as a carpet restoration center, and they literally find new life here," said Solak.
Repairs take between one month and one year
Solak said the first step in repairing and restoring an antique carpet is to wash it with natural soaps containing no chemical ingredients. "After this we identify the colors needed in the damaged or worn parts of these carpets, and then we use threads we have from rugs to fill these spaces. After we are completely done with this stage, we wash the carpet again in natural soaps. This process can last between one month and one year, depending on the damage to the carpet and the size of the carpet. The work we do here is completely fine handiwork. The average monthly cost for this kind of work is $1,000. This can increase along with the size or damage to the carpet," he explained.
Solak stated that his atelier has received carpets that date back to the 16th century and his workers have restored many carpets belonging to the British royal family. "We also repaired nearly 110 carpets used in Dolmabahçce Palace in 2004, as well as carpets belonging to national palaces around Turkey," he added.
Solak noted that while his business repairs an annual average of 200-250 carpets of various sizes, the global financial crisis has had an effect on the amount of work they receives. The number of carpets coming into his carpet repair atelier from abroad is down by 60 percent this year, and for now, times look tough.
