Monday, December 29, 2008

What makes a carpet Jewish?

Don’t Tread on Me

What makes a carpet Jewish?

By Jeannie Rosenfeld
A Kashan Pictorial Silk Rug, 1850’s, depicting King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
A Kashan Pictorial Silk Rug, 1850s, depicting King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba
Jews may be “the people of the book,” but their relationship to textiles predates the book itself. In Exodus, God provides detailed instructions for the creation of a rug-like partition to be woven of turquoise, purple, and scarlet wool and linen, embellished with cherubs, and hung in the portable sanctuary that accompanied the Israelites as they wandered through the desert. Wherever they settled and dispersed, Jews never lost their knack for textile production.

As early as the first century A.D., Baruch Albalia, a prince of Judea and expert silk weaver, was sent by Titus, the Roman general who conquered Jerusalem, to develop the textile industry in Spain. When the Jews were expelled from there in 1492, many of them found refuge in the Ottoman Empire, where for centuries the dyers, weavers and traders among them built a reputation for creating the most extraordinary carpets in the world. Anecdotal evidence of Jewish textile expertise abounds: from ledgers revealing that in the Hungarian town of Nagykoros, most of the carpets purchased between 1630 and 1682 came from Jewish sellers, to records of the Pope granting a patent for silk manufacturing to the Italian Jew Meir Magino around the same time. Across cultures, it seems, Jews were famous craftsman before they established their reputation as merchants, and while fabricating designs for their gentile neighbors, they also created some fascinating pieces for themselves.

Yet rugs and carpets (a distinction purely of size) are hardly the first things that come to mind when considering Judaica. This may reflect their scarcity, compared with more common and easily portable objects like Kiddush cups and menorahs. Or it may reflect their relatively folksy character, sometimes bordering on kitsch—an aesthetic linked to the limitations of a medium defined by stitches rather than brushstrokes, and alternately hung like tapestries or walked upon. But it also stems from the misconception that Judaic examples were anomalies among Oriental and European carpets.

Anton Felton, a British collector-turned-scholar, challenged that misconception with his 1997 book Jewish Carpets. “Everyone thought I was mad, but I spent 50 years proving my point,” says Felton, who acquired his first piece while moonlighting as a bookkeeper for London carpet dealers in the 1960s. That piece—a silk rug from Kashan (circa 1850s) depicting King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba surrounded by symbols of the 12 tribes and episodes from Jewish history—so intrigued Felton that he convinced his employer to let him work it off rather than sell it to either of the parties vying for it: then-chief Rabbi Israel Brodie and philanthropist Sir Isaac Wilson.

He went on to scour the world in search of Jewish carpets, accumulating some 60 for his personal trove and researching more than 200 in public and private holdings. The one that started it all—and, Felton says, brought him “back to Judaism”—was the star among 18 lots of rugs and carpets from his collection featured in Sotheby’s December 17th Judaica sale; it fetched $23,750. (This annual Judaica auction usually features only one or two, if any, rugs and carpets, so despite the fact that only six of the 18 lots sold, it was a major event.)

Who would have thought a rug could be an object of Jewish faith? Felton makes a strong case for Jewish carpets as a distinctive category, rather than—as he recalls being suggested to him during his years of research—“abominations that cropped up by chance at the interface of two cultures.” Much was no doubt lost over time, but those examples that can be tracked down offer tremendous insight into Jewish history and iconography. “I don’t just look at a Jewish carpet, I try to look through it,” Felton explains. “I ask, what was the culture that produced it? What did it mean to the people who owned it and looked at it?” But all this very serious research begs the question: what really makes a carpet Jewish?

he Song of Songs, A Marbadiah Wool Rug, JerusalemThe Song of Songs, A Marbadiah Wool Rug, Jerusalem, 1920–1921, centered with a stylized palm tree against a blue filed inhabited by flora and fauna, the border enclosing peacocks flanking fountains alternating with grape clusters
Taking a broad view, the field encompasses secular pieces by Jewish artisans, along with works by non-Jews used in Jewish settings (like a purely decorative carpet used to adorn a synagogue). Getting more specific, they feature inherently Jewish motifs: stars of David, menorahs, torah crowns, biblical scenes, views of Jerusalem, and Hebrew writing. There also seems to be a spiritual aspect to these decorative works, most obviously in devotional textiles such as the sheviti (a textual reminder of the divine presence) and mizrach (to indicate the Eastern direction for prayer), mounted at home and in synagogues. Workshops established in the 20th century, meanwhile, found carpet design a surprisingly suitable medium for promoting social change.

The Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts, founded by Boris Schatz in Jerusalem in 1906, and its offshoot, Marbadiah (in existence from 1920 to 1931), were influential in melding Oriental and European carpet traditions with imagery that tied Jewish identity to the budding homeland. The resulting works account for the vast majority of existing Jewish carpets—and also the bulk of the group in Sotheby’s sale. In some pieces, the Judaic elements are subtle, while others that feature biblical passages or images of Jerusalem put forward the possibility of a modern Jewish nation in an ancient land.

Around the same time, charitable institutions like the Alliance Israelite Universelle (founded by French Jews in 1860 to foster social mobility and combat anti-Semitism) and the socialist-minded Organization for Rehabilitation Through Training (founded two decades later in St. Petersburg with the goal of alleviating poverty) employed and trained Jewish carpet-makers throughout the world. Sotheby’s auction included a series of chenille rugs made by the Alliance featuring portraits of Zionist figures like Theodore Herzl, Chaim Weizmann, Lord Balfour, and Sir Herbert Samuel—the first practicing Jew to become a British cabinet minister and later High Commissioner under the British Mandate of Palestine. These idealized depictions feature richly hued red and gold tones and elaborate Oriental borders, but primarily serve as wonderful historical documents—almost like commemorative postage stamps—which may explain why they failed to sell.

While these later examples aren’t the pinnacle of carpet-making, they hold their own against most contemporaneous examples. Similarly, more luxurious—but much rarer—earlier Jewish carpets from Persia and Turkey are indistinguishable from their Islamic counterparts in style, if not in substance. In the West as early as the 10th century, the rise of the church led to the creation of the guild system, shutting Jews out of creative professions. But in the major carpet production regions of the East, they were sought out for their trade secrets and skill. This explains the striking similarities between Jewish and Islamic carpets; experts presume that they were largely commissioned and made by the same workshops and individuals. Case in point: a circa-1920 Kashan silk rug featuring an elaborate depiction of the binding of Isaac was offered in Sotheby’s general carpet auction this past June. The non-Jewish consignor had acquired it purely for its aesthetic appeal and relevance to his broader Persian carpet collection, but it sparked aggressive bidding and surpassed its conservative $5,000–$7,000 estimate to fetch $20,000 from a Jewish buyer. Perhaps it also helps answer the more basic if less central question of why so many carpet dealers in New York, Los Angeles, London, and other international cities are Jews of Persian and Turkish descent. Craftsmanship apparently paved the way for trade.

“I looked at all the major places where carpets were woven in the Mediterranean and all the major Jewish settlements, and blow me down if 99 percent of the time they aren’t the same,” Anton Felton remarks. Even as the definition of home has proved impermanent, carpets have remained an integral form of Jewish artistic and religious expression—not to mention a quintessentially Jewish livelihood.

Jeannie Rosenfeld, a former editor at Art + Auction magazine, is a New York writer specializing in fine and decorative art. Her work has appeared in ARTnews, Interior Design, and the Forward.

Photos courtesy of Sotheby's New York.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Mottahed Almas carpets capture ATF visitor’s attention

Mottahed Almas carpets capture ATF visitor’s attention
December 26, 2008 (Oman)

In the Autumn Trade Fair (ATF) 2008, at the Oman International Exhibition Centre, carpets manufactured by Mottahed Almas Company LLC, were quite appreciated by the onlookers.

According to Dr Amin Omidghaemi, Chairman of the Group, the Company sold 25 finest carpets with in 4 hours of the opening day of ATF 2008.

Mottahed Almas Company LLC, from Iran, is a joint venture between Omani Building Material Centre (OBMC) and Mottahed Almas Company Int'l. It manufactures and exports high quality Persian rugs and carpets world wide.

Currently the Company has more than 10 factories that produce best Persian carpets to cater to the demand of the global market.

Mottahed Almas, after its inception in 2005, witnessed a gradual growth in its sales. In the year 2007, the Company saw a growth rate of 80 percent and in the current fiscal expects the rate to surge by massive 500 percent.

Presently, observing the increasing love for the Persian carpets in the global market, the Company aims to expand its bases in Philippines, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Iran's Art of Carpet Weaving in Tashkent

Tashkent Hosts Iran Carpet Exhibition

TEHRAN (FNA)- An exhibition titled "Iran's Art of Carpet Weaving" opened in Tashkent Saturday with a speech by Iran's ambassador's wife to the country, Monir Keshavarz-zadeh.


Referring to the role of Iranian civilization and art in the development of world's culture and civilization, she elaborated on the Iranian carpet weaving industry.

The event does not merely seek to showcase Iranian carpet; rather it aims to hail the spirituality governing this and other branches of art, which promotes peace and stability among the peoples, the Islamic republic news agency reported.

The exhibition was attended by the wives of the ambassadors to Uzbekistan, women officials of the country, Iranologists and Persian- speaking instructors and students.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Italy exhibits Persian carpets

Italy exhibits Persian carpets
Sun, 07 Dec 2008 18:15:36 GMT
Milan's 13th Int'l Crafts Selling Exhibition displays Persian carpets.
Iran has participated in the 13th edition of the International Crafts Selling Exhibition at the New Exhibition Center of Milan, Italy.

Iran's pavilion has been set up by the country's National Carpet Center and features precious Persian carpets.

The event, which kicked off on Nov. 30, 2008 includes over 3,000 pavilions belonging to some 106 countries from around the globe.

Iran's Consul-General in Italy, Ali Hashemi-Kafil, who attended the inauguration ceremony, welcomed visitors and informed them about the 3,000-year history of carpet weaving in the country.

Three million people are expected to visit the exhibition, which will run until December 8, 2008.

Friday, November 28, 2008

AmericasMart University Offers Seminars in Best Business Practices

AmericasMart University Offers Seminars in Best Business Practices

ATLANTA, GA - the January 2009 session of AmericasMart® University (AMU), the retail business education program offered to buyers at the gift, home decor and area rug show in Atlanta, features classes in Retail Business Basics, Buying & Selling and Building Your Brand.

The January 2009 AMU schedule is:

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2009

Explode Your Sales - Simple Marketing Ideas That Will Blow Your Mind (Buying & Selling - Beginner): Presenter - Bob Negen. Sponsored by One Coast. Breakfast. Location: Building 2 - West Wing, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Electronic Marketing - Easier, Cheaper, BETTER! (Building Your Brand - Beginner): Presenter - Bob Negen. Sponsored by One Coast. Location: Building 2 - West Wing, 10:30 a.m. to Noon.

Strategies in Developing an Exceptional Souvenir Business (Buying & Selling - Beginner): Presenter - Cathy Fischer. Sponsored by Options. Breakfast. Location: Building 2, West Wing, 6th Floor, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

A Crash Course on Buying (Buying & Selling - Beginner): Presenter - Mercedes Gonzales. Location: Building 3, 3rd Floor Conference Center, 10:30 a.m. to Noon.

Training the Best Sales Team (Retail Basics - Beginner): Presenter - Mercedes Gonzales. Location: Building 3, 3rd Floor Conference Center, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Increasing Sales by Understanding the Value of Designer Rugs (Buying & Selling - Beginner): Presenters - Suzanne Kasler, Jamie Drake and David Easton. Sponsored by Safavieh. Wine reception and ribbon cutting. Location: Building 1, Safavieh Showroom, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2009

Doing Business in the New Norm (Retail Basics - Beginner): Presenters: John Haste and Becky Smith. Sponsored by IMAX. Breakfast. Location: Building 2 West Wing, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Where Have All the Customers Gone? (Building Your Brand - Beginner): Presenter - Chris Lemley. Location: Building 3, 3rd Floor Conference Center, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Hiring & Firing Employees (Retail Basics - Beginner): Presenter - Carol Hacker. Location: Building 3, 3rd Floor Conference Center, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Unique & Antique Rug Forum (Retail Basics - Beginner): Sponsored by the Oriental Rug Retailers Association (ORRA). Contact ORRA for details: 804.270.3195; orraarnold@verizon.net. Location: Building 1, 4th Floor, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009

Walk the (Area Rug) Market with Phil (Retail Basics - Beginner): Presenter - Phil Menendian. Sponsored by the Oriental Rug Retailers Association (ORRA). Location: Building 1, 2nd Floor, ORRA booth, 11:00 a.m.

Are Your Sending Customers to Your Competition? (Retail Basics - Beginner): Presenters - Steve Boodakian and Sy Mahfuz, MERA Consulting Group. Location: Building 1, 4th Floor, 1:00 p.m.

Dates for the 2009 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market are January 6-14 (permanent showrooms) and January 9-13 (temporary exhibits).

Dates for the 2009 Atlanta International Area Rug Market featuring The National Oriental Rug Show are January 7-12 (permanent showrooms) and January 8-12 (temporary exhibits).

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Afghan Bag from a cuff

Here is a vido of a bag made from the cuff of an old garment. As my grandmother used to say: "waste not want not."

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Haqiqi donates carpet tableau to Astan-e Qods Museum

November 17, 2008

Iranian artist donates carpet tableau to Astan-e Qods Museum
Tehran Times Art Desk

TEHRAN -- Iranian carpet weaver Feizollah Safdarzadeh Haqiqi donated a Persian carpet tableau entitled “Allahu Akbar Minaret” to the Astan-e Qods Razavi Museum in Mashhad on Sunday.

A veteran carpet weaver from Isfahan, Haqiqi has donated several carpet tableaus to the museum in recent years from among his Persian carpet masterpieces, including ones featuring the Imam Reza (AS) shrine, the City of Medina and the Chehel Sotun palace.

The silken carpet, designed by Noruz Hafizi, features a three-dimension picture of the text of the Azan (the Islamic call to prayer) that spirals around the minaret.

“The carpet required about 3000 hours to be completed,” Haqiqi mentioned in a press release.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Mirkazemi Steers Iranian Carpet Industry to Sucess

Carpet consortium to realize Mirkazemi dream
November 10, 2008 (Iran)

Persian carpets, with their intricate weaving techniques, beautiful assortment of colours, and explicit designs, hold the top rank in the list of carpet exporters across the globe.

Recently, Masoud Mirkazemi, Commerce Minister of Iran, called for the formation of a national consortium of hand-woven carpets for the exports. This will help the age old handicraft to survive the fierce competitions from the cheap imitations.

In a seminar, Mirkazemi said that forming a national consortium would help the Government secure the market for Persian carpets, so that local producers can get financial support when they opt to participate at carpet exhibitions in foreign countries.

The Commerce Minister invites private sectors to increase their investment in the Iranian carpet industry, so that country’s share in the world consumption may surge.

Available statistics show that till date, exports of Iranian carpets increased by 7 percent, since the beginning of the current financial year. It is estimated that more than 1.2 million weavers in the country are engaged in catering to the demand of the domestic as well as international market.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Iran Carpet Exports Surge Under Mirkazemi Exports Up7%

Iran to form carpet export consortium
Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:31:54 GMT
Iran's Commerce Minister Masoud Mirkazemi has called for the formation of a national consortium for the export of hand-woven carpets.

“Forming a national consortium would help the government secure the market for Persian carpets,” said Mirkazemi at a Tehran seminar on Persian carpets.

“In this way, the government can also financially support the participation of Iranian producers at carpet exhibitions in foreign countries,” he added.

Genuine Persian carpets have recently come under fierce competition from other countries that either produce fakes of the original Iranian designs or poor quality, cheaper substitutes.

Mirkazemi said Iran's carpet exports have increased by 7 percent since the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 2008), however, he stressed that there must be a unified effort to increase Iran's share in the world carpet trade.

The commerce minister also urged the private sector to increase its investment in the Iranian carpet industry.

There is an estimated population of 1.2 million weavers in Iran producing carpets for domestic markets and international export.

Indian Carpet Trade Collapsing Market Off 90%

Thousands without jobs in carpet export hub
Saubhadra Chatterji / Bhadohi November 10, 2008, 0:33 IST

Three carpets, wet with chemical-laced water, could be seen on the large, barren field in Sarroi village of Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh, soaking the afternoon sunlight. The far end of the field was dotted with two abandoned, naked brick structures.


“The first one was migrant workers’ house. The other had my carpet-making looms. I used to wash (the process of drying chemical-laced carpets) a hundred carpets on a single day. Now, as you can see, there are just three of them,” Asir Ahmed said. “Like a pariah dog in search of food, every morning I run everywhere in search of orders.”

Jagdish, another contractor, had 12 to 13 workers in each of his gola or groups. “I don’t have much work these days. So I have four workers in each gola. The retrenched workers have gone away to Surat and Mumbai in search of jobs or are sitting idle at home.”

Beyond the bankruptcy of international financial giants, beyond the crash of the Sensex, the ripples of the planet’s greatest economic slowdown are fast reaching newer milestones in India. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh might have succeeded in saving a few thousand jobs in corporate India when he met industry captains last week, Jet Airways may well have retained its 1,900 employees, but here in the hinterland of Uttar Pradesh — famed as the carpet hub of India — the poor are being retrenched in thousands.

PLEASANT MEMORIES
Carpet exports from Bhadohi
2005-06 Rs 3,082 crore
2006-07 Rs 3,674 crore
2007-08 Rs 3,524 crore

Among India’s major carpet producing centres spread over around six states, Bhadohi is the biggest name — it accounts for almost 65 per cent of India’s total carpet export, according to the Carpet Export Promotion Council.

The situation today is bleak. “For the past three months, I have not received a single new order which means a loss of almost Rs 3 crore,” said Vinay Kapoor, the owner of Kapoor’s Carpets. “Job uncertainty and the meltdown have wiped out consumer appetite this Christmas, which, otherwise, is the peak season for carpet sales,” added Ravi Patodia, president of the All India Carpet Manufacturers’ Association.

According to an insider, many carpet-makers have closed their business as export orders, which account for more than 95 per cent of the business in Bhadohi, “have reduced to 10 per cent compared to last year’s corresponding period”. Patodia confirmed that export orders worth at least Rs 300 crore have been cancelled in the past few weeks.

Ismail, who works in a carpet factory, fails to understand all this. He knew that he had Rs 50 in his pocket after a day’s hard work and a family of seven to feed. He didn’t know if he will get some work tomorrow or not, as his tired body faded away in the dusty bylanes of Bhadohi.

Dust was also gathering in Kapoor’s godown — on a ‘made in Bhadohi’ Persian carpet crafted by four artisans over eight months as it waited for someone to buy it for Rs 1 lakh.

Rug Morning in Seattle December 6

I just got a Google Alert about me. So I thought I better post it here as well:

Possible "Rug Morning" on the horizon and other ramblings
By Seattle rug cleaning(Seattle rug cleaning)
Barry O'Connell has been in Seattle for work and has kindly offered to help me put on a few "Rug Mornings" starting December 6th! I will post more details as they come up.

The whole idea of a Rug Morning is to have some fun looking at handwoven rugs. I try to look smart by knowing everything about rugs (I don't) and there is always someone who brings in a ringer carefully selected to make the "Expert" look dense.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Kateb & Veysian visit Pakistan Carpets Exhibition

INCC REPRESENTATIVES ATTENDED PAKISTAN CARPET EXHIBITION

News Content:

Iran National Carpet Center representatives attended Pakistan Hand knotted Carpet Exhibition which was held in Karachi last week.

Engineer Mahdi Kateb( Coordination and Supervision on Production Manager) and Engineer Seyyed Mohammad Veysian( The Director for Raw Materials and Dyeing Research of Research and Training Management) and closely probed the exhibition.
Pakistan Hand knotted Carpets Exhibition 2007 was held in a surface about 3000m2 with nearly 50 stalls at the hall no.6 of Karachi Expo Center.
This exhibition was inaugurated on behalf of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry with participation of Pakistani manufacturers and carpet importers to other countries. "The exports of Pakistani carpets have remained stagnant for many years and are swaying around $230-250 million. This is due to the fact that only traditional markets have been tapped while there is a need to bring about a paradigm shift in the marketing, manufacturing and presentation of hand-knotted carpets from Pakistan." Said the president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The KCCI chief, Majyd Aziz, further added that carpet exports are less than 1.5 percent of the total exports of Pakistan, even though this industry provides livelihood to whole families rather than just individuals. He also called for setting up a state-of-the-art equipped carpet city to cater to large orders.
It is noteworthy that Pakistan makes an effort to appear as a strong rival of Persian Handmade Carpets by boosting the quality of its carpets and making a variety of designs resembling the quality and variety of Persian carpets.

Translated by:

Source:

Public Relations of INCC

Picture:
http://incc.ir/en/Lists/News/Attachments/75/Pakistan.jpg

Iranian carpets Huge Success at Kuwaiti Carpet Exhibition

Iranian carpets attracts huge footfalls
November 08, 2008 (Kuwait)

The Fourth International Kuwaiti Carpet Exhibition titled 'Kuwait Antique and Carpet' was inaugurated on November 6, by Ali Jannati, Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait, at the Kuwait International Fairs Ground.

During the opening ceremony, many officials from Kuwaiti Commerce Ministry were present.

Along with 36 Iranian carpet companies, 14 enterprises from other countries like Morocco, Yemen and India are also showcasing their excellent craftsmanship here in the expo.

Rashid Al-Sayed Yousef Al-Tabatabaei, Deputy Commerce Minister, while addressing the people present during the event said that Persian carpet hold a special position in the hearts of art lovers because of its elegance, excellent quality, design and beautiful amalgamation of colour.

While talking to reporters Ali Jannati, said that last year, bi-lateral trade between Iran and Kuwait stood at US $750 million; of which around $500 million accounted for Iran's exports to the country.

Iranian pavilions have occupied most part of the exhibition. Experts are expecting that this year, with the kind of footfalls these stalls are being able to attract, sale will be quite high. The event will run till November 15.
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=65685

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Kevin Pearson of Pearson Carpet Care

One guy who I am really impressed with is Kevin Pearson of Pearson Carpet Care, LLC. 525 N. Houston Avenue, Humble, TX 77338, 281-548-7200 Fax 281-548-7201 Cell 281-723-8603 www.pearsoncarpetcare.com
Kevin is not just a great carpet cleaner but he is a really sharp guy. It is good to see men of his caliber in the rug cleaning business.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

TMCA to host Persian carpet designs expo

October 23, 2008

TMCA to host Persian carpet designs expo
Tehran Times Art Desk

TEHRAN -- Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMCA) is to host the great expo of Persian carpet patterns and designs opening on November 15.

Speaking at a press conference held here on Tuesday, Iranian researcher of Persian carpets Mohsen Mohseni said, “I have served the art of Persian carpets over the past 50 years and this is has been a great honor. This art not only beautifies the world’s great halls, but also represents the glory and pride of the Iranian nation.”

He later named several of his great endeavors over the past years including training experts of Persian carpet weaving, giving health services to carpet weaving workshops in Kerman, as well as insuring carpet weavers of Kerman and Khorasan.

“Persian carpet production is the only national occupation in which all of its component parts are exclusively Iranian, and no part of it is imported. Fortunately, the field of Persian carpets has established a solid position in the country and it is now taught at universities, attracting great number of the youth,” he remarked.

He went on to say, “Unfortunately, the global commercial system has greatly impacted the art of the Persian carpet, giving us a warning to refine and respect this art even more. So we decided to collect designs and patterns of Persian carpets that have been produced over the past 100 years and put them on display.”

Secretary of the expo, Mohammad-Ali Rajabi was the next who made a speech and said, “We are displaying the designs of Persian carpets to show the tremendous talent of the Iranian masters.

“We negotiated with the Iran Carpet Company, the Carpet Museum of Iran, businessmen and private collectors to provide us with samples of carpet designs they possess for the exhibit, and as a result, almost 300 designs of carpets from the past 100 years will go on display.

“Several designs of Iran’s Constitutional Movement era, as well as the carpets themselves will be on exhibit for one month, with Master Mohseni also to be honored on the closing day of December 15. Plans call for the displayed designs to be published later in a book,” he stated.

Researcher Hassan Bolkhari who also will be attending the conference, announced that Iran’s Academy of Art has established the traditional arts group to promote art that reflect our national identity, with special emphasis on the art of Persian carpets.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Tabriz Bazaar Eyes Global Registration

Tabriz Bazaar Vaulted Ceiling
Tabriz Bazaar Eyes Global Registration
The Tabriz Bazaar is in the process of being registered as a global heritage site.
Over the years, in addition to being the economic hub of the region, the bazaar was also a center of sociopolitical development in Azarbiajan and the country, especially during the Constitution Movement.
After several centuries, the bazaar continues to play an influential role in the regional economic, political, social and cultural domains.
Given its special features, since the beginning of the current Iranian year (started March 20) Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) has eyed the bazaar as a candidate for registration at the international level.
Deputy head of ICHHTO, Fariborz Dolatabadi said.
“Currently the case is being compiled. Concurrently, the files for Sheikh Safioddin Ardebili Complex and the historical texture of Yazd are also being compiled.“
Tabriz bazaar Iran


Inception Unknown
The exact year of establishment of the bazaar is not known. However, writings of domestic and foreign tourists and historians such as Hamdollah Mostofi and Marco Polo suggest that the bazaar complex was originally built in the fourth century (AH).

An official of East Azarbaijan’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Department, Majid Chatr-Rouz referred to the renovation of the bazaar in the recent past and said, “The present-day bazaar belongs to the Zandieh era and was rebuilt after the devastating earthquake in 1193 (AH). The roofed bazaar complex covers an area of one square kilometer.“
He recalled that based on available statistics there are about 8,000 shops in the ancient bazaar.
“If we assume that at least two people work in each shop, the bazaar has direct job opportunities for 16,000 people and indirect employment opportunities for about 35,000 people,“ he noted.
He added that, “Based on available data, every day over 20,000 people visit the bazaar for purchasing or trading goods. Therefore, the bazaar is one of the most crowded in the world.“
It was registered as a national heritage in 1975.

Features
Tabriz Bazaar, in comparison with similar bazaars at the international level, has unique characteristics, which show the importance of its global registration.
Head of East Azarbaijan’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Department Torab Mohammadi said, “The historical bazaars in Iran and the rest of the world are no more an economic hub. But the Tabriz bazaar still remains an economic hub of the northwestern parts of the country.“
Chatr-Rouz referred to the architectural features of the bazaar and said, “Since the bazaar was expanded from the Zandieh era to Qajar period, it has a diverse architectural style. It is designed in such a manner that it is cool in the hot summers and warm in the winters.“

He recalled that in addition to being a major venue for commerce, the bazaar supplied the everyday needs of people in olden times.
“Existence of a historic bathhouse, mosque and school and other public places are sufficient proof to this effect.“

Protective Measures
Mohammadi said with the cooperation of his department and Tabriz Municipality it is expected that height of buildings which may harm the landscape of the bazaar will be lowered.
He emphasized that the bazaar should be immune from any kind of harm or damage that endanger its registration as a global heritage.
“Hence, no new permits have been issued for constructing buildings in the precincts of the bazaar,“ he noted.
The floor of the bazaar is being renovated and its irrigation system rebuilt for preparing the bazaar for the important registration.
There also have been reports about an agreement between Iran and Japan to improve the bazaar’s resistance to natural disaster.

CNN: Gabbeh Among Best Asian Films

CNN: Gabbeh Among Best Asian Films

Gabbeh directed by Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf
CNN has included ’Gabbeh’ directed by Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf on its recently released list of the Best Asian Films of all Times.
’Gabbeh’ beautifully documents the lives of an almost extinct tribe of nomads, living in the remote steppes of southeastern Iran, Presstv said.
For these wandering families Gabbeh serves as both an artistic expression and an autobiographical record of their lives.
Makhmalbaf’s film tells a fictional love story, using an elderly couple’s ’Gabbeh’ as a magic story-telling device to weave the past and the present.
’Gabbeh’ has participated in over 50 international events and has received numerous awards, including the Tokyo Festival’s Best Artistic Film, and the Sitguess Festival’s Best Director and Special Critics Awards.
The CNN list also includes ’In the Mood for Love’ by Wong Kar-Wai,
’Infernal Affairs’ by Andrew Lau Wai-Keung and Alan Mak Siu-Fai, ’China: Still Life’ by Zhang Ke Jia and ’Mother India’ by Mehboob Khan.

85% of Bushehr Kilims Exported

85% of Bushehr Kilims Exported
119247.jpg

Bushehr province annually produces about 3,500 square meters of kilims, a provincial official said.
Ahmad Dahar, deputy head of Bushehr Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department for handicrafts and traditional arts, also told CHN that kilim (a hand-woven rug) ranks second to gabbeh (a triple hand-knotted carpet/floor mat) in the province in terms of export.
Referring to the fact that more than 85 percent of Bushehr’s kilim are exported, Dahar said European countries, particularly Germany, are the main buyers of Bushehr’s kilim.
“Low production of Bushehr’s kilim is attributed to several parameters, including the scatteredness of the villages where kilim is produced and the high cost of equipment needed for its production,“ he said.
Dahar stated that Bushehr’s kilim is of premium quality.
“Nearly 120,000 square meters of gabbeh are produced annually in the province,“ he said.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Amatulli & Sons Opens Oriental Rug and Fine Furniture Store in Greenville/Spartunburg South Carolina- Asheville, North Carolina Area

Amatulli & Sons Opens Oriental Rug and Fine Furniture Store in Greenville/Spartunburg South Carolina- Asheville, North Carolina Area

Amatulli & Sons, LLC has opened a new Oriental Rug & Fine Furniture showroom in Greer, SC. The facility feature hand made rugs from Turkey, Iran (Persian), India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, China and the Balkans. There is also a selection of new and antique furniture from England & France - South, Central and East Asia - and the Americas.

Greer, SC, September 11, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Amatulli & Sons, LLC is celebrating the grand opening of their new Oriental Rug & Fine Furniture showroom in Greer at 1317 West Poinsett St. They commenced their move from New Canaan, CT in July, 2007 and after 12 truck loads of inventory the move was completed almost a year later in June 2008.

“It was quite an endeavor to pack, ship and resettle a business that has been up and running for over 40 years”, reports owner Richard Amatulli. “We’ve been planning the move since we first bought property in Landrum in 1998.”

Though new to the Upstate as full time residents the family has actually been in the area for more than 35 years. “We’ve considered investing here for a long time, becoming part of the local community and contributing to its growth,” says Mr. Amatulli. “Everyone from town officials to local merchants and local residents has been incredibly helpful in assisting in the transition.”

The husband and wife team of Richard and Mary Amatulli are joined by the middle of their three sons, John. He has been with the company full time for nearly 8 years contributing design and engineering experience gained from 9 years of post college experience as well as the knowledge gained from growing up in the home furnishings business.

The history of the company goes back to 1968 when Rich Amatulli while serving with NATO in Turkey formed a partnership to revitalize Turkey's rug industry. In the following 30 years of manufacturing integrated with wholesaling and retailing in the United States, the firm became the premiere source for Turkish rugs.

An 18-time winner of the Turkish Gold Medal for Exports, importing more than 80,000 Turkish rugs into the United States by 1987, the business expanded further including exquisite works from Iran (Persia), Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia and Egypt. In 1985 furniture was added to the repertoire, imported directly from France, England, and Asia, along with collections from domestic sources in the Americas. The company continued to import, wholesale and retail through the millennium shifting emphasis with market trends until the decision to focus on a new market in the Upstate of South Carolina and Western North Carolina.

Amatulli & Sons is open to the public and the trade Tuesday thru Saturday from 11am to 5pm or by special appointment. For more information visit their website at www.RugAuthority.com or call 864-879-1122.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Loyd Robert Whiteman and Warde Rose Whiteman celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary

in Flagstaff.


Loyd and Warde Whiteman
Loyd Robert Whiteman and Warde Rose Whiteman celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary on July 24, 2008 with a family gathering at their home. Loyd and Warde met in 1948 on Oahu, Hawaii. Loyd was serving in the US Navy and Warde lived in Honolulu and worked in her family's Persian and Oriental Rug business. They were married in that same year and later moved to the mainland, living in California and Oklahoma before setting in Arizona in 1961.
Loyd worked as an independent truck driver for many years and later for the City of Phoenix, having retired in 1986. Warde worked for Salt River Project for 28 years, until her retirement in 1989.
Together, they have traveled extensively throughout the US by RV, making many special friends along their journey.
The couple have been an admirable and ste adfast couple, devoted to each other and their family, including son, Chance L. Whiteman and his wife, Barbara, and one daughter, Sharon Reeves and her husband George M. Lamberti, Jr. and grandsons Chance R. Whiteman, who is an elementary school teacher and assistant principal in the Valley and Joshua Reeves who, following in his grandfather's footsteps, is himself currently serving the U.S. Navy in Hawaii.
The couple has been an enduring blessing to theirfamily and friends, as well as a shining example of how fortitude, devotion and love can forge truly exceptional lives. We all congratulate them on their 60 years of marriage. 


Related topics: Oriental Rug Cleaning Austin

Friday, August 29, 2008

Göreme businesswoman Lockwood shares insight on carpets

[EXPAT PROFILE] Göreme businesswoman Lockwood shares insight on carpets, Turkey
Most foreigners who come to live in Turkey opt to settle either in İstanbul or somewhere along the coast. There are, however, a few hardy souls who have chosen to live in rural Turkey.

One of them is Ruth Lockwood, the New Zealand owner of the Tribal Collections carpet shop, who came to live in Göreme in Cappadocia in 1988. Here she talks to Pat Yale about life, carpets and the changing face of Turkey.

You've been living in Göreme for 20 years now. What brought you here and however did you wind up staying for so long?

I had no intention of coming here -- I just wound up here after being unexcited by the Greek islands. Then I met my now ex-husband and stayed to make a pension with him. As the years have passed, I've come to love the country more and more. I thoroughly enjoy my work and the laidback lifestyle. But I still can't believe that 20 years have passed!

You must have seen some remarkable changes in that time. Would you say that Göreme is a better place to live in now?

The changes have been massive. Twenty years ago the lifestyle here was archaic with people riding past on donkeys or in horse carts. Everything people ate they made themselves, drying it, stewing it or sun drying it. They lived in a very natural way with little reliance on outsourced products. At first I saw this as a hindrance because I couldn't get some of the things I wanted. Now the longed-for improvements have come and I can buy almost anything. The sad thing is that as a result of these changes we have lost many of the old traditions -- the women baking bread in communal ovens, every roof covered in drying apricots, people making their own cheese and yoghurt. In one way it's a great sadness to see more and more people working in tourism. Obviously it allows them a better lifestyle, but nowadays only women and the very young work in the fields. Perhaps I didn't truly respect these traditions until they started to disappear.

Overall, though, for me Göreme is a much better place now. Satellite television, Internet banking and other modern conveniences have made life easier and helped reduce the sense of distance between me and my family. Also, to see people getting a better education and women being able to go out to work are wonderful improvements.

Now to the carpets. You work in a very male-dominated business. Can you tell us how you got into it?

I started out in the business because I had inherited a great love of oriental carpets from my grandmother, who had lived much of her life in India and Pakistan and collected carpets there. In the old days people would walk past carrying kilims for sale, but I didn't have the knowledge to know how to take advantage of the opportunities. Then I began to learn about carpets and became completely passionate about them. Even after 19 years in the trade I can still get just as excited when something special comes my way.

In the beginning I wasn't taken seriously and was regarded as a sort of add-on to make other tourists feel comfortable. But I had a huge advantage in that I was here when the borders of the former Soviet states opened. Carpets flooded in -- I saw thousands of them in a single day. Slowly my knowledge grew and I became an expert in old and antique carpets. Occasionally I still have to cope with dealers who come in and ask to see the "patron [boss]" and then ask for the male patron instead of me. But once they realize I know what I'm talking about, my sex is seldom an issue.

What tips do you have for surviving in a very male working environment?

It's difficult! It took me a long time, but eventually I learned never to challenge men head-on, never to disagree with them outright, but rather to enlist their help by asking for their ideas or giving them options and asking them to choose. A lot of the men in the carpet trade can be very conservative -- they're often from small villages or from the east. But in the end I'm the person buying the carpets -- if they rub me up the wrong way, I don't purchase!

The carpet business seems to be struggling. Where do you see it going in the future?

It certainly is suffering under the weight of many rugs imported from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran that are cheaper than rugs made in Turkey. There are also a lot of copies being made in China. As a more modern lifestyle has developed, Turkish women are less likely to want to weave. For example, 10 years ago there were around 2,000 women working on looms around one local village, but today the number has shrunk to just 120. It's almost impossible to continue with my specialization, which was old and antique pieces, because the lifestyle that sustained their creation (i.e. nomadism) has virtually disappeared.

On the positive side, DOBAG, Black Mountain Looms and Woven Legends are producing excellent new rugs using old designs and wonderful natural dyes. In some respects they're filling the gaps.

You're building a house in Göreme from scratch. That's a very brave endeavor...

I've always been of the opinion that bravery and stupidity are not far removed from each other. It has been one of the most humbling experiences of my life to try and build a new cave house and make it look old, as if it had always existed, without the help that should have been provided by architects. But the project seems to have a mind of its own and keeps evolving. When completed it should be a sensational house which will double up as a small boutique hotel with uninterrupted views across one of the valleys.

You have a teenage daughter and sorting out appropriate schooling has sometimes proved problematic. Any pearls of wisdom to pass on?

This was a hugely difficult issue for me. It's probably not so difficult for people living in İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir, but in smaller areas it can be hard coming to terms with the local education system and its limitations as far as exam results and subject choices are concerned. For example, my daughter went to an excellent private school in Nevşehir and wanted to specialize in foreign languages. This wasn't possible, so the only choice was to send her to a local public school where the curriculum was extremely limited and the teachers sometimes conspicuous by their absence. In the end I opted for her to do the last two years of high school in Australia, which has been very hard for both of us.

What advice would you offer to someone just starting out on a new life in Turkey?

Be as flexible and open-minded as possible. Be aware that it's somebody else's culture, not your own, and learn to enjoy all that that encompasses. Despite the setbacks, possible rip-offs and sometimes the lack of trust that leads to the exploitation of some foreigners, try to focus on the positives while keeping yourself firmly grounded in reality.

29 August 2008, Friday
PAT YALE GÖREME

Monday, August 18, 2008

Iran opens hand-woven carpet research department

Iran opens hand-woven carpet research department


TEHRAN, Aug. 18 (MNA) – The director of Iran National Carpet Center (INCC) here on Monday announced that a research department for hand-woven carpets has been opened in the Center.

Morteza Faraji told Mehr News Agency that the new department aims to identify market demands and the customers’ tastes.
Meanwhile, the INCC board of directors’ chairman, for his part, announced that the center plans to issue IDs for Persian handmade rugs.
Jalaleddin Bassam said that each carpet will have an ID through which its specifications such as dimensions, design, weaver, and national code will be made known.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

David Chase Rugs & Furniture Steamboat Springs

Rug, furniture gallery changes its name

Chase Oriental Rug Co., of Steamboat Springs, has changed its name to David Chase Rugs & Furniture, according to a news release. The 12,000-square-foot showroom sells hand-woven area rugs, textiles and furniture. It offers pieces reflective of western and mountain-contemporary styles, according to the news release.

“Changing the name of the business best represents what customers will find in our showroom,” founder and owner David Chase Scully said in the release. “In addition to fine rugs, we offer distinctive furniture, unique tribal art and architectural pieces.”

The showroom at 335 Lincoln Ave. is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Arasta Bazaar: Sultanahmet’s oft-overlooked shopping are

Arasta Bazaar: 
Arasta Bazaar
Sultanahmet’s oft-overlooked shopping area

Tucked away next to the Blue Mosque in two short shop-lined pedestrian streets is the Arasta Bazaar -- Sultanahmet's own miniature version of the Grand Bazaar.













































Built at the same time as the Blue Mosque, this area originally served as a marketplace, with the rents from the shops going toward the upkeep of the mosque. During Ottoman times, it was known as the Sipahiler Bazaar, and specialized in items for the cavalry. Later it fell out of use and was used as a stable for horses. Ravaged by fires, the area was left in ruins and largely ignored for many years. Revamped in 1974, it now houses 83 shops, most specializing in carpets and textiles, but with the usual touristy kitsch thrown in for good measure to hopefully tempt some of the passing tourists to wander inside for a look. As you wander the streets, take a break from window-shopping and look at the walkway itself.
Here and there, you will see bits and pieces of mosaics and tiles poking up between the stones. These are some of the remnants from the Great Palace of Byzantium built by Constantine. Thought to have at one time extended from the Hagia Sophia and Hippodrome down to the coastline, the basic design was planned by the Emperor Constantine I. The vast structure contained an assortment of state buildings, including numerous courtyards, throne rooms, audience rooms, churches, chapels, fountains, libraries, assembly halls, thermal baths and stadiums. Over the centuries, the complex fell victim to fires, earthquakes and neglect. The mosaics that remain from this mighty palace can be viewed at the Mosaic Museum, next door to the Arasta Bazaar. After winding around underground to view the impressive artwork, the exit deposits visitors once again at the heart of the bazaar.
For carpet and felt shopping, Arasta offers a much more laid-back atmosphere than many parts of the Grand Bazaar. During tourist season shopkeepers are out, as to be expected, trying to lure customers and offering endless glasses of tea, but there is not the persistent hassling found in many of the other parts of Sultanahmet. A large number of the customers who shop here are serious collectors who know what they are looking for and where to find it.
One of the best places in Arasta to find collectable textiles is Mehmet Çetinkaya's Maison du Tapis d'Orient, opened in 1986. Known worldwide as one of the major Turkish dealers in rare textiles, included in his inventory are very reasonably priced pieces, including new Uzbekistan suzanis. Cocoon is another well-known shop in the bazaar. Established in 1995 by Şeref Özen and Mustafa Demir, it has a reputation for good quality and prices. Included among their more interesting pieces are Turkmen rugs and embroideries from Central Asia.
At night, weather permitting, a free, so-called "whirling dervish show" is staged for unwary tourists by the small café at the beginning of the bazaar. But, unless you are a lover of touristy performances this is a definite must-miss. If you want to see a sema (whirling dervish) ceremony, it's better to go the Galata Mevlevi Han or Sirkeci train station and see the real thing.
For a quick snack during the day, the cafe at the end of the bazaar nearest to the Blue Mosque is a good place to stop for a rest and refreshments. From here you have a fantastic view of the Blue Mosque and can relax, take a break and people watch while drinking tea, having lunch and then smoking a nargile. For a more substantial meal, across the street from the bazaar is the Mavi Ev Hotel, which has one of the best panoramic views in the area of Sultanahmet and the Marmara Sea from its rooftop terrace restaurant. For the best cup of coffee in town with a mouth-watering pastry on the side, stop by the Java Studio, across from the Mavi Ev, for a fresh cup to perk you up after a day of sightseeing and shopping, or to brace yourself for an upcoming spending spree.
Hours: All shops open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.- 7 p.m. Some of the shops are open on Sundays.
16 August 2008, Saturday
KATHY HAMILTON İSTANBUL

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Virginia Beach rug store Shaia Oriental to shut down

Friday, August 8, 2008

Iranian artists plan World Peace Carpet

Iranian artists plan World Peace Carpet
Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:10:16 GMT
Cyrus Cylinder is kept in British museum in London
Iranian artists plan to weave the World Peace Carpet, director for the Cultural and Historical Complex of Sa'ad Abad Eshrat Shayeq says.

The design of the handmade carpet is taken after the Cyrus the Great's Cylinder, said Shayeq, who is also a member of the Iranian parliament (Majlis).

Bearing a declaration issued by the Persian king Cyrus II in Babylonian cuneiform, the Cyrus Cylinder is described as the world's first charter of human rights.The cylinder was unearthed in 1879, in Esagila (the Murdak temple of Babylon).

Shayeq said the Cyrus Human Rights Charter and will be woven in several languages and the carpet will bear the names of all the weavers.

The inscription which is an indication of the primitive king's broad-mindedness reads: From [Babylon] to Assur and (from) Susa, Agade, Esnunna, Zamban, Me-Turnu, Der, as far as the region of Gutium, the sacred centers on the other side of the Tigris, whose sanctuaries had been abandoned for a long time, I returned the images of the gods, who had resided there [i.e., in Babylon], to their places and I let them dwell in eternal abodes. I gathered all their inhabitants and returned to them their dwell.

In 1971, the charter was translated in all six UN official languages, with a replica of the Cylinder kept at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Iran: 4m sq.m of carpet exported annually

A total of four million square meters of handwoven Iranian carpets are exported each year to American, European and Persian Gulf littoral states as well as to Japan, China and Russia.

Announcing this, Head of Iran's National Carpet Center Morteza Faraji told IRNA on Sunday that most of the exported carpets are woven in West and East Azarbaijan provinces as well as in Khorasan, Fars and Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari.

Commenting on the center's programs to upgrade the industry, Faraji further said that producing films, publishing brochures, holding provincial and national festivals, issuing specification cards for carpets are on the center's agenda.

Revising the standards, training carpet weavers to improve the quality of carpets, using modern technology and paving the way for electronic commerce are among the other undertakings of the institute.

"Carpet is not an industrial goods; rather, it is an artistic and cultural item going back to ancient times," he observed.

Faraji also announced that an exhibition of hand-woven carpets will be held from August 22-28.

The event, which has been warmly welcomed by foreign businessmen, will introduce the Iranian carpet industry better than before, Faraji concluded. --IRNA

Friday, August 1, 2008

exhibition of antique Oriental rugs called “Woven Gardens,”

Summer Blooms in exhibit of rare antique rugs

Dublin, NH – This August, visitors have a rare opportunity to visit a late-summer garden blooming in western New Hampshire. The blooms, however, can’t be found in the meadows and fields near Mt. Monadnock. These gardens are on the walls and floors of Peter Pap Oriental Rugs, in an exhibition of antique Oriental rugs called “Woven Gardens,” now running through September 1 at Pap’s gallery at 1225 Main Street in Dublin, NH. In conjunction with the exhibition, Pap ,dealer in antique oriental rugs an authority on antique Oriental rugs and collecting, discusses the artisanship and investment value of antique rugs during a lecture entitled “Valuing Antique Rugs: Beauty and Investment” on Thursday, August 21, at 4 p.m. The lecture is free, but reservations are required. More information is available at www.peterpap.com and 603/563-8717. Exhibit hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon -5 p.m. through Labor Day. The gallery is closed Mondays and Tuesdays through Labor Day.

The 40 rugs featured in “Woven Gardens” depict weavers’ versions of gardens, even paradise. Various interpretations of plants and flowers are represented in the exhibit, from a highly representational, fine Persian rug to a very geometric, stylized Caucasian village rug.

“A strong case can be made that nearly every Oriental rug is about gardens and plants,” says Pap. “The derivation of all design (in Oriental rugs) other than animal forms is from nature. There are some architectural motifs, but the vast majority of designs are derived from plants and flower forms.” Many experts believe that the great royal carpets of 16th and 17th century Persia were woven to represent a garden paradise, with flowers and trees in full bloom.

The rugs in “Woven Gardens” were created by nomadic tribespeople over 100 years ago; others were created by weavers in villages in Persia (present-day Iran), India, and Turkey. Highlights of the exhibit include a circa 1800 Persian palace carpet, featuring myriad cypress trees, willows, small flowering trees and shrubs against a field of flowers. “Everything is very alive and appears to be still growing,” says Pap. “The interplay between the structure of the design and the feeling of freedom and aliveness is a wonderful achievement.” Also included in the exhibit is an unusually fine Persian Serapi carpet from the late 19th century. The weavers beautifully articulate the plant and flower forms on this rug, which is typically coarser, using the best natural dyes of the day.

A Brief History of Oriental Rugs

Oriental rugs were created centuries ago by nomadic and mountain peoples of Persia, Afghanistan, India, southern Russia and Turkey. They had mundane uses as bedding, decoration in tents, even as makeshift furniture. Persian carpets were found in the palaces of emperors and princes. Great court ateliers used book illuminators to create the arabesques and scrolling vines often seen on Persian carpets. Nomadic people created designs that were passed from generation to generation; settled tribespeople combined geometric motifs with a style and format borrowed from more sophisticated urban elements featuring floral arabesques. The reputations of these designers and weavers spread throughout the civilized world as Oriental rugs became coveted in the United States and Europe.

Peter Pap, a dealer in antique Oriental rugs for more than 30 years, is recognized internationally by collectors and decorators as one of the country's foremost experts on antique Oriental rugs, carpets and tribal weavings. With galleries in San Francisco and Dublin, and an office in New York City, Pap also participates in many top antiques shows including New York’s Winter Antiques Show, the Philadelphia Antiques Show, and the San Francisco Fall Antiques Show. A frequent lecturer at antique shows and museums, Pap is an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow on PBS and an occasional guest on Martha Stewart Living Radio on Sirius.

For more information about “Woven Gardens” and to reserve a space at the accompanying lecture “Valuing Antique Rugs: Beauty and Investment,” call (603) 563-8717; email wovengardens@peterpap.com; or visit www.peterpap.com.

The 40 rugs featured in “Woven Gardens” depict weavers’ versions of gardens, even paradise. Various interpretations of plants and flowers are represented in the exhibit, from a highly representational, fine Persian rug to a very geometric, stylized Caucasian village rug.

“A strong case can be made that nearly every Oriental rug is about gardens and plants,” says Pap. “The derivation of all design (in Oriental rugs) other than animal forms is from nature. There are some architectural motifs, but the vast majority of designs are derived from plants and flower forms.” Many experts believe that the great royal carpets of 16th and 17th century Persia were woven to represent a garden paradise, with flowers and trees in full bloom.

The rugs in “Woven Gardens” were created by nomadic tribespeople over 100 years ago; others were created by weavers in villages in Persia (present-day Iran), India, and Turkey. Highlights of the exhibit include a circa 1800 Persian palace carpet, featuring myriad cypress trees, willows, small flowering trees and shrubs against a field of flowers. “Everything is very alive and appears to be still growing,” says Pap. “The interplay between the structure of the design and the feeling of freedom and aliveness is a wonderful achievement.” Also included in the exhibit is an unusually fine Persian Serapi carpet from the late 19th century. The weavers beautifully articulate the plant and flower forms on this rug, which is typically coarser, using the best natural dyes of the day.

A Brief History of Oriental Rugs

Oriental rugs were created centuries ago by nomadic and mountain peoples of Persia, Afghanistan, India, southern Russia and Turkey. They had mundane uses as bedding, decoration in tents, even as makeshift furniture. Persian carpets were found in the palaces of emperors and princes. Great court ateliers used book illuminators to create the arabesques and scrolling vines often seen on Persian carpets. Nomadic people created designs that were passed from generation to generation; settled tribespeople combined geometric motifs with a style and format borrowed from more sophisticated urban elements featuring floral arabesques. The reputations of these designers and weavers spread throughout the civilized world as Oriental rugs became coveted in the United States and Europe.

Peter Pap, a dealer in antique Oriental rugs for more than 30 years, is recognized internationally by collectors and decorators as one of the country's foremost experts on antique Oriental rugs, carpets and tribal weavings. With galleries in San Francisco and Dublin, and an office in New York City, Pap also participates in many top antiques shows including New York’s Winter Antiques Show, the Philadelphia Antiques Show, and the San Francisco Fall Antiques Show. A frequent lecturer at antique shows and museums, Pap is an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow on PBS and an occasional guest on Martha Stewart Living Radio on Sirius.

For more information about “Woven Gardens” and to reserve a space at the accompanying lecture “Valuing Antique Rugs: Beauty and Investment,” call (603) 563-8717; email wovengardens@peterpap.com; or visit www.peterpap.com.

Published Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:25 AM by AskLisa Filed under: , ,

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Garden Carpets as Paradise

Anita Kulkarni

Did you know the word “paradise” originates from the Persian word pairi daeza, which means “walled peace”? That’s what the Persian garden is all about—an oasis of peace and prosperity.
Early Muslims, living where the climate was always hot and dry, were inspired by the idea of an oasis. Thus evolved the elaborate Islamic gardens with enclosed courts, planted with trees and shrubs, and surrounded by cool arcades. They were enlivened with coloured tile work, detailed curbstones, fountains and pools. The interplay of light and shade lent further character.
Take Taj Mahal, for instance. What heightens its splendour is the surroundings— the mirror-like pool before it, the green lawns and the soft whisper of fountains. Each of these elements is a key to Islamic architecture, where natural features subtly soften the stark monument.
All Mughal garden architecture has roots in the Persian (Iranian) paradise gardens. In Persia, the garden was born as a retreat from the desert. Water, being scarce, was brought from distant mountains to create these gardens. It is only natural then that water was the guiding thread of a Persian garden arrangement.
A Persian garden incorporates architecture and planting—groves of flowering almond, pomegranate trees, damask roses— with water rills and shade-giving pavilions. It evokes a place where walls shut out the desert.
The Mughals in 17th and 18th century India built gardens in which flowers, fruit trees, water and shade were arranged in a unified composition. The most notable examples are, of course, the Taj Mahal gardens in Agra and the Shalimar Garden of Kashmir. The Taj is an intricate masterpiece of Mughal symbolism—a wide metaphysical landscape with the Yamuna river on one side and a paradisical garden on the other. The motif is of the ‘charbagh’; but the heart of the Taj, the tomb, lies not at the centre of the ‘charbagh’, but on the terrace to the north, overlooking the Yamuna.
The symbolism of paradise
The Islamic garden design vocabulary is drawn from descriptive verses of paradise gardens in the Quran and Hadith.
Fourfold harmony: The plan of the Taj Mahal gardens. Photograph: Anita Kulkarni
Fourfold harmony: The plan of the Taj Mahal gardens. Photograph: Anita Kulkarni
It explores the power of geometry through the use of a square, circle and an octagon. The basic design elements include water, pavilions, walls, gates and shade.
• All Islamic gardens have an inward orientation.
• They are enclosed by walls, providing seclusion and protection from the climate.
• The garden is divided into four quadrants by water channels or walkways, with a fountain at the centre—hence the ‘charbagh’.
• The ‘charbagh’ signifies the four rivers in Allah’s Gardens of Paradise according to the Quran: the rivers of water, wine, milk and honey.
• Water and shade are two important design elements—they are mentioned in the Quran as rewards for the righteous, possibly owing to the aridity of the lands where Islam originated. So, pavilions are built directly above running water. Trees are planted for cool shade and breeze.
• The designs use classic motifs to depict a rich green oasis, rather like the vast carpet of cultivated agricultural land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. They are known for their endless vistas and play with light and colour.
• The garden layout is meant to be appreciated from a distance, from pavilions, rather than expressed through walkways or paths through it.
• The mood changes depending on the time of day and season, which influences the blooming of flowers and shape of trees. It is manifold and moving, just like life.
Persian gardens beautifully exhibit a fine understanding of the fundamentals of landscape architecture—long before the science acquired its name. Indeed, the rich artistry of Persian carpets also employs the imagery of the Persian paradise gardens with the classic motifs of ‘charbagh’, flower beds and vine-covered walls.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

President Donates Precious Carpet to Museum

President Donates Precious Carpet to Museum
Director of Iran’s Carpet Museum said the most unique and precious carpet in Iran’s history was donated to the museum by the Presidential Museum.
Parviz Eskandarpour Khorrami also told Fars News Agency that experts believe the carpet belongs to the famous carpet-weaving workshop named ’Amu Oqli’, which was woven more than 100 years ago.
“Amu Oqli is the most famous carpet-weaving workshop dating back to the Qajar and Pahlavi eras, which was run by three generations of Amu Oqli family,“ he said.
The official pointed out that natural colors are used in the Amu Oqli carpet.
“The carpet is made of cotton, wool and natural fabrics,“ he added.
Khorrami said the Presidential Office will donate a total of 135 precious carpets to the museum, 40 of which have already been donated.