The restoration and return of the historic Hereke carpet to the Peace Palace marks a significant collaboration between the Carnegie Foundation, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Embassy of Turkey in the Netherlands. H.E. Ambassador Selçuk Ünal played an important role in facilitating this project, underscoring the deep cultural and diplomatic ties between Turkey and the Netherlands. This remarkable effort, involved complex logistics and meticulous restoration work in Turkey’s Sultanhanı,
The restored carpet, a vital piece of the Peace Palace’s cultural heritage, will be reinstalled in the Japanese Hall in a festive unveiling ceremony on Thursday, 9 January 2025. The event will feature speeches by Piet Hein Donner, Chairman of the Carnegie Foundation; H.E. Selçuk Ünal, Ambassador of Turkey to the Netherlands; Dr. hab. Marcin Czepelak, Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration; and H.E. Nadir Alpaslan, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey.
A Gift from the Ottoman Empire
More than 40 countries contributed to the construction of the Peace Palace by donating artworks or building materials. The largest hand-woven carpet outside Turkey, donated by the Ottoman Empire in 1911, has now been extensively restored in its place of origin. Combining scientific innovation with traditional craftsmanship, the 160-square-meter carpet returns to the Peace Palace after an absence of nearly two years.
The Peace Palace’s Hereke carpet is distinguished by its intricate geometric design and craftsmanship, consisting of 13,704,480 Turkish “Gördes” knots. Measuring 160 m² and weighing approximately 700 kilograms, the carpet adorns the Japanese Hall—one of the most stately rooms in the palace, frequently used for conferences and hearings, including sessions of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Despite the durability associated with Hereke carpets, decades of intensive use necessitated this restoration.
Journey of Restoration
In January 2023, a protocol was signed between the Carnegie Foundation and the Turkish government, initiating a complex logistical and restoration process. The carpet began its journey in March 2023, first undergoing thorough cleaning at Icat in Cruquius, the Netherlands. It was then transported to Sultanhanı, in the Turkish province of Aksaray, where restoration specialists conducted meticulous work.
In November 2023, a Dutch delegation visited Sultanhanı to observe and contribute to the restoration planning. Experts developed an eight-phase conservation and restoration strategy, blending traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge chemical analysis and technology. The carpet was divided digitally into 280 sections, each meticulously analyzed to identify 15 different types of damage. The most prominent issues included wear from furniture and foot traffic.
Advanced Restoration Techniques
With support from the analysis laboratories of the Turkish Energy Nuclear and Mineral Research Council (TENMAK) in Ankara, experts identified the original yarns and colors used over a century ago. Repair yarns were custom-dyed with natural pigments derived from plants and roots, following traditional methods. A highly skilled team of craftsmen, who had previously restored tapestries for Buckingham Palace, completed the intricate restoration.
