We were on the return leg of our sojourn into the famous Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, already laden…read morewith bags, when we stumbled upon a side street in the bazaar with old wooden architecture that must date back to Ottoman times. On the shop walls, amidst the thousands of carpets, were newspaper postings of famous customers who've frequented Şişli Osman Carpet & Kilim over its commendable history. The lovely family who run this lovely shop have global recognition, from Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands and Hillary Clinton to Rick Steves of US travel documentary fame. The lattermost endorsement helped seal the deal in terms of credibility. Their carpets are painstakingly handwoven, dyed with natural products, including pomegranate and indigo plants, and come with certificates of authenticity from a business dealing in this same area of the Grand Bazaar since 1894. This long-running family business is run by true gentlemen. Thank you for the lovely handwoven nomadic style rug, originating from master craftspeople in central Turkey, and for a wonderful buying experience.