Saturday, February 19, 2011

Angie's Advice: Cleaning prized Oriental rug a specialized process for a pro

Billi Andrews spent several years searching for just the right company to clean the Oriental rug she "fell in love with" when she bought it in Miami Beach, Fla., more than 30 years ago.
"It's gorgeous," said Andrews, who lives in Mooresville. "It hadn't been cleaned in so many years."
Valuable handmade rugs should be cleaned only as needed, and it's best to have a professional do the job.
"A rug can cost several hundred dollars or tens of thousands of dollars," said Jeff Hendricks, owner of Smith-Mathis, a cleaning services company in Fishers. "Even a rug that's only a few hundred dollars, you don't want to replace it. You want to get good use out of it. It's something you don't want to clean improperly and ruin the value."
Typically made of wool, silk, rayon, cotton or a blend of non-synthetic fibers, Oriental rugs vary widely in the materials and dyes used to make them, so they respond differently to various cleaning methods. Never entrust a high-end rug to just anyone for cleaning. A professional should test the rug to ensure the proper method is used in its cleaning.
"The rugs we get in here are from all over the world," said Scott Simmons, general manager of Heirloom Oriental Rug Cleaning in Indianapolis. "A lot of the rugs we clean are quite old. So significant care has to be taken with how you clean them."
Simmons recalled a situation in which one customer attempted to shampoo an Oriental rug on his own. The colors from the maroon rug faded onto the homeowner's off-white carpet.
"He didn't have the knowledge to clean it to keep that from happening," Simmons said. "We incorporate the right type of chemistry to prevent color run and bleeding."
A professional cleaning can cost between $200 and $600, depending on the type of rug and the work being done. Repairs also can be made to most rugs.
Hendricks offers recommendations for maintaining an Oriental rug, including vacuuming it frequently and rotating it regularly so it wears evenly.
"A rug that's in a high-traffic area needs to be cleaned a lot more than a rug in a room that just gets occasional use," Hendricks said. "A valuable rug probably should not be used close to the entry of the home, because a lot of chemicals -- especially salt or outdoor solvents -- can get on the rug. It's usually good to have a mat under the rug. That keeps it in place, so it doesn't move around a lot. It will last longer."
Simmons said he's tackled about every type of stain, from pet damage to a family's rug collection that was heavily soot-damaged from a fire.
"You can imagine the odor," Simmons said. "The rugs were almost completely black, but we were able to fully restore those."
Though Oriental rugs can range widely in value, it's often the personal attachment the owners have that matters most.
"A lot of the rugs that come in here have a story behind them," Simmons said.
"One customer told me her kids used to use the borders as a racecar track. No two rugs are exactly the same.
"The whole reason we call ourselves 'Heirloom' is because a lot of these rugs have sentimental value or have been passed on and it's important for the customer to know that whoever cleans them is going to take care of them."
Angie Hicks is a Fishers resident and founder of Angie's List, a national provider of ratings in more than 500 categories of service. www.angieslist.com.

Related topics: Oriental Rug Cleaning Austin

LINDA METTEL JOINS THE NAZMIYAL TEAM

Mettel brings creative energy and a tasteful eye to the Nazmiyal showroom. She comes to us with more than 15 years experience in the antique rug world. Designers are drawn to her honest core, sophisticated style & innate ability to connect with their design needs . Antique rugs are my passion and a source of inspiration that make me smile. They are the foundation to any room which instantly create character, mystery and a bit of the unknown to any setting. I have a modern attitude and encourage my clients to blend antique rugs with contemporary pieces to create timeless moods and spaces. As in the case with wisdom and wine – rugs only get better with age.


By joining Nazmiyal, I see tremendous opportunity to introduce my clients to Jason’s vast collection of exceptional rugs at price points that are unmatched by other galleries. I have known the company since my entry into the rug world and I feel comfortable here. I am sure clients will appreciate the inviting atmosphere which is perfect for sitting back and getting inspired by the beauty of rugs.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Sixteenth century Persian carpets unique in design, colour, quality

Story removed at Susan Hallett request. Please do not assume the worst about Susan.
Related topics: Oriental Rug Cleaning Austin

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Iran carpet exports at $440mn

Iran carpet exports at $440mn
Tue Feb 15, 2011 4:29PM
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Iran's exports volume of hand woven carpets has increased 14 percent in the last 10 months, compared with the same period last year, an official says.


"In the first 10 months of this [Iranian] year, Iran exported hand woven carpet worth USD 440 million to foreign countries," head of Iran's National Carpet Center Faisal Merdasi said on Tuesday.

He also predicted that the exports volume would reach USD 500 million until the end of the current Iranian calendar year on March 20.

"Regarding rising exports rate of carpets, it is expected that the volume reaches its highest rate in the past six years," Merdasi was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Merdasi, who is also the deputy commerce minister, said Iranian carpets are exported to 33 countries, adding that Germany, the US, the UAE, Japan, Italy, and Switzerland are the main importers.

"South Africa, China, Kazakhstan, and Brazil are regarded the new destinations of the Iranian carpets," he explained.

The official also praised trade in old hand woven carpets of Iran, saying many countries are interested in the carpets due to its high value and its design.

Carpet-weaving is one of the most distinguished manifestations of Persian culture and art, dating back to ancient Persia.

There is an estimated population of 1.2 million weavers in Iran who produce carpets for both domestic and international markets.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Prayer Rugs

Nazmiyal Collection and Nazmiyal Blog
A prayer rug or prayer mat, (in Arabic, سجادة sajjāda or musallah, in Turkish: seccade or namazlık, in Persian: جانماز Jānamāz), is a piece of fabric to keep the worshipper clean and comfortable during the sujud (prostration to God) of salah (prayer). A Muslim must perform wudu (clean himself or herself) before prayer and pray in a clean place. Many new prayer mats are manufactured or made by weavers in a factory. The design of a prayer mat is based on the village it came from and its weaver. When praying, a niche at the top of the mat must be pointed to the Islamic center for prayer, Mecca. All Muslims are required to know what direction Mecca is from their home or where they are.
The prayer mat has a very strong symbolic meaning and traditionally taken care of in a holy manner. It is disrespectful for one to place a prayer mat in a dirty location or throw it around in a disrespectful manner. The prayer mat is traditionally quilted in a rectangle design, within the rectangle one usually finds images of Islamic symbols and architecture. Decorations not only are important but also have a deep sense of value in the design of the prayer rug.
Mosques are examples of the most common architecture used to decorate a prayer mat. Some of the most popular examples include the mosques in Mecca, Medina, and especially Jerusalem. A prayer mat is characterized by a Mosque’s niche, or Mihrab, an arch-shaped design at the front end of the carpet. The Mihrab is used as a directional point to direct the worshipper towards the direction of Mecca. Decorations not only play a role in imagery but serve the worshipper as aids to memory. Some of the examples include a comb and pitcher, which is a reminder for Muslims to wash their hands and for men to comb their hair before performing prayer. Another important use for decorations is to aid newly-converted Muslims by stitching decorative hands on the prayer mat where the hands should be placed when performing prayer.

Prayer rugs are usually made in the towns or villages of the communities who use them and are often named after the origins of those who deal and collect them. The exact pattern will vary greatly by original weavers and the different materials used. Some may have patterns, dyes and materials that are traditional/native to the region in which they were made. Prayer rugs’ patterns generally have a niche at the top, which is turned to face Mecca. During prayer the supplicant kneels at the base of the rug and places his or her hands at either side of the niche at the top of the rug, his or her forehead touching the niche. Typical prayer rug sizes are approximately 3 × 5 ft (0.91 × 1.5 m) – 4 × 6 ft (1.2 × 1.8 m), enough to kneel above the fringe on one end and bend down and place the head on the other.






The rug was part of Sotheby’s sale of Arts of the Islamic World that totalled £7.9 million, well in excess of pre-sale expectations. Discussing the rug Edward Gibbs, Head of the Middle East & India Department at Sotheby’s said “The price of £2.7 million (it sold for $4.34 million U.S.) – many multiples of the top estimate – is a testament to the quality and rarity of this stunning piece which was the highlight of our Arts of the Islamic World sale today in London.

K______ S____ Persian carpet specialist

I do not trust or recommend that person. I did not understand exactly who he was or what he was capable of.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Apigian-Kessel: The Pazyryk Rug

Apigian-Kessel: The Pazyryk Rug


It was just the four of us experiencing another serene and pleasant late November afternoon sharing friendship, refreshments, and cordial conversation. Expansive glass windows offered views of a beautifully landscaped garden that made you feel at total peace with the world.
Our hosts were Sara and Edgar Hagopian in their lovely contemporary home nestled on a private, nature-filled property in Bloomfield Hills, where deer, fox, black squirrels, birds, and other gifts of nature have found a safe sanctuary, romping freely to the delight of owners and visitors alike. It’s their paradise. As on other occasions, a doe safely wanders into the yard adding to our pleasure.
Soon the man who built a dynasty in the Oriental and broadloom rug industry proved his mettle in a manner that a seasoned boy scout would envy. The logs Edgar Hagopian placed in the fireplace took on a roaring blaze filling the room with bright light and warmth.
Sara refilled our teacups as we sat around a beautiful antique Chinese coffee table telling us of their early years, she coming originally from New York and he from Detroit.
Soon she brought out a book titled The Pazyryk Rug Its Use and Origin, which came to fruition from a paper written by Ulrich Schurmann, read during the Symposium of the Armenian Rugs Society on Sept. 26, 1982 in New York. It was a fascinating topic totally unfamiliar to me.
Little did I know the book would become a gift to my husband Bob and I, something we will treasure for the magnificent history it represents and more so for those that gave it to us, Sara and Edgar Hagopian.
It is safe to say that no one exceeds this husband and wife team of over 50 years when it comes to possessing pride and dedication to their Armenian ethnic origin. That is why the Pazyryk book holds so much significance.
Picture an ice grave in the Altai Mountains of Russia, where it is said the multitude of burial mounds evolved over the centuries from Scythians in the Pazyryk valley. Grave robbers opened the gravesite soon after burial, leaving a hole. Water entered and quickly turned to ice thereby preserving the contents in pristine condition.
Among the perfectly preserved items found buried by archaeologist Sergei Rudenko in 1949 was a 2,500-year-old carpet knotted in such fineness of weave and imagination of design that the idea that the best carpets came to us beginning in the 16th century was quickly discarded.
Remember, this timeline is from the fifth century before Christ and is the oldest known rug in existence.
The rug is presently in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. It measures 6’ x 6’7 and was knotted with 278 knots per square inch, using hand-carded and hand-spun wool.
The book’s author is emphatic in explaining that the rug “is not nomadic or peasant, but of a highly sophisticated extraordinary piece of art.” Further, “Turkomen tribes would never have the imagination to invent such a carpet design nor to use the small but important nuances.” He says that hundreds of years of development had passed before such a rug of such outstanding design could be produced.
The rug consists of an inner field and a number of borders, with horizontal and vertical rows. The field color is red. (Edgar used the word “madder,” which is a Eurasian herb. The root of the Eurasian madder was used in dying, and produced a moderate to strong red.)
Bucks, griffins, leaves, flowers, and riders are part of the design motif. The Scythians were excellent horsemen, and horses appear prominently on the Pazyryk rug representing power, nobility, and valor.
It is believed the rug was part of the funeral and ceremonial object for Scythian royalty because bucks and griffins were mystical expressions of life passing over to death.
Now comes the interesting part: The author says that after the Kingdom of Urartu dissolved around 590 B.C., the various existing tribes mixed with Scythians, from which emerged the nation of the Armenians.
In 1971, 2,000 bronze plaques were discovered in the area surrounding Lake Van, leading to the conclusion that because of the beauty of these pieces the Pazyryk could only have been made in this same area.
Ulrich Schurmann is convinced that the Pazyryk rug was a funeral accessory and most likely a masterpiece of Armenian workmanship.
Lengthy research, including comparisons of the artistic development of various ethnic groups and cultures of the time, and the author’s conclusion can only add to our immense gratitude to him.
How proud I am to possess this book and with it the knowledge of the creative beauty of the Armenians from as far back as hundreds of years before Christ. Wear this knowledge with pride, knowing that you and I share the blood of these artistic people.
Thank you, Sara and Edgar Hagopian, for your friendship and this very important gift to me, which I share here it with my readers. That is Armenian pride to the fullest extent.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Iranian Carpet expo opens in Tajikistan

Iranian expo opens in Tajikistan
Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:30AM
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Iran's 9th exclusive expo in Tajikistan has gathered Iranian and Tajik businessmen and investors in the capital Dushanbe.


Around 75 Iranian firms from various economic sectors are showcasing their products at the Kakhe Barbad state complex in Dushanbe, where Tajik businessmen and Iranian manufacturers will discuss ways to invest in Tajikistan's economy, the Press TV correspondent in Dushanbe reported.

Hand-woven Persian carpets, health and agricultural products, electrical appliances, textiles, and construction materials are among the products on display at the five-day event, which will wrap up on November 17.

On the sidelines of the opening ceremony, exhibition organizer Mohammad Omrani said that many Iranian provinces, including Tehran, Khorasan Razavi, Fars, Isfahan, and Golestan, have put their products on display at the expo.

In addition, Tajikistan Chamber of Commerce Chairman Saeed Sharif said that Tajikistan is an ideal place for foreign investment.

He added that Iran is one of Tajikistan's major trade partners and the trade volume between Tehran and Dushanbe increased 20 percent last year, reaching $250 million.

An economic expert at the Iranian Embassy in Tajikistan also stated that the trade volume between the two countries has increased by 60 percent in the first six months of 2010 in comparison with the same period in 2009.

Iran and Tajikistan enjoy robust trade relations. The exhibit will help boost trade with Iranian firms while allowing Tajik companies to acquire the expertise they need to develop their own businesses.

Iranian companies are also currently involved in several development projects in the country, including the construction of a dam, a hydroelectric power plant, and a tunnel.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

History of Persian Carpet Helsinki Times

History of Persian Carpet PDF Print E-mail

The Nasir al-Mulk Mosque is a traditional mosque in Shiraz, Iran.
Archaeological discoveries show that mats woven by Roodan region of Iran straws have been frequently used since 4th and 5th millennium, and Kilim weaving has reached a high level of evolution since 1500 BC.
The most ancient handicraft, to which archaeologists have accessed, is a rug that due to its discovery in the frozen tomb of one of Sakai rulers has been named as Pazyryk rug. This rug, which was used as a saddle, is currently preserved in Leningrad Armitage Museum. Experts accredit it to be «Persian» regarding its designs resembling Achaemenian designs and believe that Pazyryk rug is from Madians and Parthians (ancient big Khorasan) handicrafts.
Colours applied in this rug are deep red, yellow, pale green and orange. The resemblance of Iranian cavalries and infantries, as well as winged creatures to Persepolis engravings amplifies expert opinions. Experts also believe that weaving a rug with such properties requires a cultural and artistic support of at least several centuries, indicating that for consecutive centuries – before weaving renowned Pazyryk carpet – this occupation was widely spread in Iranian plateau, decoded by Iranians.
Sayings of historians approve it. As Xenophon, a Greek historian, in his book Cyrus Conduct has written: “Iranians for their beds to be soft, spread rugs beneath them.” This statement indeed shows that carpet weaving was widespread at that time finding a way through daily life as one of necessities. Although no typical type is left from Sassanid era, as evidences show, Persian carpet had a worldwide reputation at that time.
The Chinese Suiy calendar has highlighted the woollen rugs of Iran in Sassanides as goods imported by China. In Farsi literature there is much more talk about the big carpet of “Baharestan” palace belonging to “King Khosrow” showing capabilities of Iranian craftsmen and their pioneering in carpet-weaving artisan.

Experts believe that weaving a rug requires a cultural and artistic support of at least several centuries.
By the appearance of Islam and the overthrow of magnificent Sassanides, this artisan previously supported by nobles, encountered with some stagnation followed by the rise of different governances and political instability which hindered weaving activities. In particular, Arabs cold-shouldered aristocratic way of life in palaces, which was demanding to them who got used to living in deserts under starry skies in tents of mat. The picture of human and animal was abominated and considered as indicator of polytheism and idolatry.
As artists were dispersed in near and far cities, carpet-weaving artisans with no outstanding manifestation continued to exist, but it was not long that following previous kings, Ommiad and Abbassid Caliphs made this artisan bloom by focusing on it. The “History of Beihaghi” description of repeated offers of beautiful rugs by Ali-ibn-Issa from Khorasan to Aaron-Arrasheed in Baghdad and evidences gathered by Islamic historians and geographers from here and there indicate indisputable reason of Iranian developed carpet-weaving culture.
The author of “Hodud-e-Alam” (812 AD) denotes Fars carpet, and a century later, Moghaddasi manifests Qaenat prayer rugs. Yaghut Hemavi (1179 AD, 6th century) informs of Azarbaijan carpet weaving, and Ibn-Batuta, a Maghrebian tourist, narrates that while visiting Izeh, a Bakhtiari region, on his way from Khur Mousa in Persian Gulf to Isfahan, a green carpet was spread in front of him. Farsi literature does not lack these indications either. Khaghani Shervani narrates the reputation of Marandi carpets in the 6th century.
The invasion by Mongolian tribes ruined what was the achievement of previous kings. They were fighters who had conquered the world on horseback, whose wives did not accompany them in war. Rugs, born by women’s hands, not only did not find a way to Iran by their attack, but also small workshops of them were destroyed and designers fled to far and remote places.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Antique Tabriz_Rugs

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Antique Tabriz Rugs from Christie's

 Antique Tabriz Rugs from Christie's


Antique TABRIZ CARPET NORTHWEST PERSIA, CIRCA 1900

Antique FINE TABRIZ CARPET, NORHT-WEST PERSIA EARLY 20TH CENTURY

A tabriz carpet, northwest persia, second half 20th century

Antique TABRIZ CARPET, NORTH-WEST PERSIA CIRCA 1900

A fine tabriz carpet, north-west persia late 20th century

Antique FINE TABRIZ CARPET, NORTH-WEST PERSIA CIRCA 1920

Antique TABRIZ CARPET, NORTH-WEST PERSIA CIRCA 1920

Antique KHOY TABRIZ CARPET, NORTH-WEST PERSIA CIRCA 1930

Antique TABRIZ CARPET, NORTHWEST PERSIA, FIRST QUARTER 20TH CENTURY

A tabriz rug, northwest persia, second quarter 20th century

Antique UNUSUAL TABRIZ CARPET, NORTH-WEST PERSIA CIRCA 1900

Antique FINE TABRIZ CARPET, NORTH-WEST PERSIA CIRCA 1930

Antique Persian Rugs Carpets and Tribal Weaving

Antique Persian Rugs Carpets and Tribal Weaving

Antique Persian Rugs are one of the world's greatest undervalued art form. A few rugs are from known masters but the vast majority of Antique Persian Rugs are the product of unknown women expressing an art form that is one with their very being. There is not a Persian Rug but rather 10,000 different types woven in cities, towns and villages. The distinctions allow experts to "read" where the rug was woven, the language or dialect of the weaver, and often her religion. Persian Rugs are as multi-faceted as the Persian people themselves.

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