“Every rug tells a story, woven with threads of history, culture, and the hands that crafted it – each knot a memory, each pattern a journey.” Unknown
When I was in Istanbul in 2002, I purchased this beautiful Turkish antique prayer rug for my dad in the ballpark of $65-$75 USD. He loves it. It is next to his bed and it is the first thing his feet touch every morning. I made him promise me that I get it back when he croaks.
But in the meantime, while he’s still alive (and I’m patiently waiting for my inheritance, kidding – I don’t want him to kick the bucket anytime soon) and since I’m back in Istanbul I decided I’d like to buy another small rug for myself.
There is no shortage of rugs shops in Istanbul but the trick is to find an antique dealer for the cool, handmade, good stuff – the ones with character and an interesting story. Some of the newer rugs are either machine made or from other countries like India, Pakistan, or China. I was on the hunt for my diamond in the rough.
After the Turkish lamp making class, I spent the afternoon with Vera and Alex having lunch and doing a bit of shopping. It wasn’t until we parted ways and I was headed back to the hotel that I noticed this cute little shop called Motif Collection on a side road and made a detour. It was nothing flashy and nobody was standing outside waving in customers. Heck, I wasn’t even sure what they were selling at first. Like a moth to a flame, my interest was piqued.
I was curious about the meaning of the word Motif so I looked it up and here is what I found: Motifs are derived from symbols that were used in ages gone by to inform, communicate and to convey ideas. Over time, some of these signs merged with myths, acquired hidden significance and moved into the world of esoteric symbolism.
When I walked up to the store, two men were standing just inside and opened the door to invite me in. I politely declined at first. I was tired, cold, and just wanted to go back to the hotel – plus, I wasn’t in the mood to shop for rugs. They both smiled and said “You can come inside and just look.” They seemed kind and I didn’t feel any pressure from them to purchase anything so I stepped inside. Well, who would have guessed it but these guys and I hit it off and after two and a half hours and a cup of apple tea we were still discussing life and Turkish rugs. I got a whirlwind of an education and a burst of energy. Who knew chatting about carpets could be so interesting.
Meet Hamit Balkir (left – original owner and Turkish rug connoisseur), Mehmet (center – repair specialist), and Hakan (right – business partner).
And I can’t forget to mention the star of the show, Duman. She is a street cat who lounges in the store during the day and runs amok outside at night. What a life.
Hamit started Motif Collection in 1992 with one of his brothers. Hamit is originally from central Turkey and was raised in a nomadic family until the age of 12 when his mother decided they needed to come to Istanbul. He told me stories about what it was like growing up as a nomad in the Kucuk Kilaviz Tribe moving from place to place depending on the weather so their animals would have places to graze. He shared a little bit about the skills he had learned like plant medicine and knowing how to read the weather from looking at nature. But the skillset that he learned as a child and has turned into a successful business is repairing and selling antique carpets/rugs and kilims. (He also used to own the hotel I’m staying at as well.)
They have thousands of rugs in their tiny shop. Many of them you don’t see unless they bring them down from the room upstairs. The basket of threads in the picture below are scraps from other carpets that they use to repair the rugs and kilims. You can even bring in a rug that you own and they will repair it for you. Hamit told me a story of a woman who didn’t like the center color of a rug she wanted to buy so they took it apart and redid it to her liking. Which adds another layer to the story of the rug. These guys are masters at their craft.
During our chat Mehmet was repairing a section of a rug that had been torn.
Hamit travels all over the world for carpet exhibitions not only showing his rugs, but also purchasing rugs to sell in the store. The New York Times invited him several years ago to the United States, where he had his own exhibition in New York and Washington D.C.
Before I buy anything I like to shop around to compare prices, quality, and the seller. These guys by far had the best prices, quality, and the most authentic rugs I could find. Not to mention they were honest and fare and didn’t pressure me to buy anything.
When it was time to purchase my rug, I went back and they began showing me dozens and dozens of rugs. To give them parameters, I shared that I was looking for an older rug with a story that was unique with beautiful colors and within my price range. The selection was fantastic.
Everything they showed me was beautiful but I could only buy one so I needed to narrow it down to just a few to choose from. Hamit explain the history of each rug, the age, the story told through the symbolism, and what regions they were from in Turkey.
Ultimately, I decided on what is called a sample rug. It’s a one-of-a-kind rug created typically by a female rug maker to show future buyers her capabilities to make them a custom rug. So the sample rug is full of different colors, patters, and symbols. Each border displays multiple options and the center has a few different patterns as well.
I found my diamond in the rough.
My new rug is over 90 years old, so you know it’s laid in several people’s homes. It probably has many stories to tell of little children’s bare feet running across it while playing or an exhausted mother cleaning it while doing housework – maybe in different countries. It originates from the Incesu Tribe in central Turkey. I absolutely love it. And when I stop being a nomad, I think it will be perfect in front of a kitchen or bathroom sink…or maybe a rocking chair.
Hamit, Hakan, and Mehmet are the real deal. They take great pride in their work and won’t steer you wrong. They even handled shipping it to the US for me as well. I looked up their reviews online and out of 368 reviews, 361 of them are five stars and the stories people shared are beautiful to read.
If you’re curious about Motif Collections and their business or better yet are interested in buying a rug or kilim, you can read more at Trip Advisor Reviews.
Before I left I showed Hamit a photo of my dad’s rug. He said it is approximately 50 to 60 years old (late 60’s to early 70’s) and is from central Turkey. Information I didn’t know when I purchased it.
As a token of our new friendship, Hamit gave me a little handmade bag made from a piece of kilim. I’ll cherish it always and think of them every time I use it.
Another wonderful experience in Istanbul and one you shouldn’t miss if you visit.
Good Things List
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Antique handmade rugs.
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Hamit, Hakan, and Mehmet for sharing their stories with me over an apple tea.
Much love & gratitude. Namaste 🙏
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Rugs they hang outside for display.
Another customer looking at rugs.
You can never have too many photos of Duman.
