The combination of Armenian origins with a European upbringing allows Keshishian an advantage in having a deeper understanding of the spirit and aesthetics of both. Coming from the town of Kayseri in central Anatolia, they were one of the most prominent merchant families in the region with a wide range of interests including textiles, Horse breeding, farming and had the privilege of being granted the official stamp for production of raki, cheers!
In 1915, all changed, and with the loss of our grandfather, the family moved to Constantinople, on the advice that it was safer there. The eldest son, Aram, who was educated at the American College in Talas, Kayseri, having an academic background and a leaning to the arts, decided to establish a shop dealing in oriental carpets and textiles. This was outside the bazaar, as at the time the bazaar was used mainly as stables for horses. His contemporaries would state that he had the best eye for carpets in Turkey. There were only a handful of carpet merchants and so reputation was an important criteria for success, and indeed it was shameful to offer the wrong item.
