Sümer Kars El Halısı

Sümer Kars Hand-Knotted Carpet is a hand-knotted carpet produced within the borders of Türkiye using traditional methods and registered with a geographical indication. It was officially announced in the Resmî Gazete on 1 September 1996 under Decree-Law No. 555 on the Protection of Geographical Indications and was registered on 14 November 1997 on behalf of the Kars Municipality. This registration aims to protect the carpet’s production technique material composition and regional characteristics.

^{Sümer Kars Hand-Knotted Carpet} (Culture Portal)

The Sümer Kars hand-knotted carpet is woven using the double knot technique (Turkish knot). Its typical quality standard is 22x28, with 616 knots per square decimetre. The pile height ranges between 10 and 14 mm. The yarn used in production is entirely wool and varies in thickness as follows:

• Pile yarn: 2.5/2 Nm wool
• Warp yarn: 4/3 Nm wool
• Thick weft yarn: 4/4 Nm wool
• Thin weft yarn: 4/4 Nm wool

The material consumption reflects the carpet’s dense and durable structure. Approximately 4450 grams of wool are used per square metre, consisting of 3150 grams for the pile, 700 grams for the warp, 400 grams for the thick weft and 200 grams for the thin weft.

The geographical indication protection of the Sümer Kars hand-knotted carpet is maintained through continuous monitoring during production and marketing. Monitoring is carried out by regional directorates factory directorates and quality control commissions. Carpets produced in deviation from the specified technical characteristics may not be labelled as “Sümer Kars Hand-Knotted Carpet”. This practice aims to preserve the product’s traditional structure and regional identity.