THE CARPET IS IDEAL. With a tribal pattern from Kurdish Iran, measuring roughly 14 feet by 10, and about 80 years old, it has a dozen natural-dye shades of rust, pomegranate, lapis, pistachio,
and saffron. It sprawls across the floor of one of the oldest carpet stalls in Istanbul's mostly
enclosed Grand Bazaar. Outside, the marble hall echoes with the sounds of haggling and clinking
tea glasses, as it has for more than 550 years.
"Come on," says shopkeeper Hasan Turkeri. "We've made a good price. Let's finish this." All I
need do is shake his hand, write down my address back in Virginia, and--as he puts it--"the carpet
will arrive at your door before you do."... Press for full of The Story |
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