Today I have been looking at persian carpets. After a 3 hour lesson in the designs, patterns, origins and materials used I am so overwhelmed I may never be able to decide on one - and the trouble with that is - I need two!
Here's a sampling of what I have learned todayabout hand made rugs: they are city made or tribal made. City made means that exactly - made by people who live in cities. Usually a family, many of which have been making rugs for generations. They are pretty exact with their patterns, which look like giant cross stitch patterns. Tribal rugs are made by people who live outside cities. Their patterns are not generally written down and the designs are passed on from generation to generation. Their patterns are not as exact, so are thought to be more "one of a kind", whereas the city ones can be reproduced from the written pattern. Technically since all are handmade, they are "one of a kind", but more room for error or uniqueness among the tribal ones. Rugs are made of silk, wool, cotton or any combination thereof, with silk being the most expensive. Tribal rugs are almost never made of silk. Cotton only rugs are not as durable, silk is the most durable and the most expensive. These carpets come in a variety of sizes and come from Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Nepal along with some from Turkey. I have listed them in the order of their desirability. Iranian ones are the most expensive, etc on down. So the silk ones from Iran are the most expensive ones. You are supposed to look not only at the front of the carpet, but also at the back of it to see if you can see the knots and tails. The more you don't see, the better. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and colors. Just when you think you've seen every color and design you can imagine, they bring out a whole new batch. And bring them out they do! Before you can blink twice they have flipped out and unfolded at least 50! It is astounding how fast they can unfurl them and refold or reroll them.
As we were finishing up today, a gentleman came in to look at rugs. The owner of the shop introduced us and the man gave me his business card. He is with the Raffles Hotel and was looking for persian rugs to lay down in the lobby of the hotel. For those of you who might not know, the Raffles Hotel is Singapore's oldest and most prestigous hotel. The hotel bar is where the Sinagpore Sling drink was invented!
The man who owns the rug shop is an Iranian by the name of Saeid (pronounced sigh eed). Very nice, well educated, speaks English very softly and very well. Came very highly recommended. He told me today never pick a rug until at least your third or fourth visit. Just come in, drink tea and look. One will call to you. As we were concluding our lesson and visit for the day, I was asking where in Iran he was from. He tells me Tehran, as is his wife. He learned the business from his father and his grandfather. He came to Singapore several years ago because it is an easier place to do business from. But he says I would love Tehran and would be treated very well there in private homes. Visits in private homes best, in public very political with much rhetoric and posturing. Many rules in public. Then he says too bad nations cannot be more civil as everyday people are to one another. Then maybe we could all get along better. Amen to that! I'll buy my rugs from him.
Faye - Shari says you read the blog all the time. Send an email to rathbun_debbie@yahoo.com and let's get acquainted. What's your favorite color to wear?
Cindy - I can never reach you! Just wanted to say hi!
Sam- are your parents trekking through the wilds of central America yet?
Patsy - cannot wait for a Wed night Mexican fest with you!
Becky - sounds like you all are having some fun coming up!
Heather - Yes, still in the future. Yes, he's still there.
Here's a sampling of what I have learned todayabout hand made rugs: they are city made or tribal made. City made means that exactly - made by people who live in cities. Usually a family, many of which have been making rugs for generations. They are pretty exact with their patterns, which look like giant cross stitch patterns. Tribal rugs are made by people who live outside cities. Their patterns are not generally written down and the designs are passed on from generation to generation. Their patterns are not as exact, so are thought to be more "one of a kind", whereas the city ones can be reproduced from the written pattern. Technically since all are handmade, they are "one of a kind", but more room for error or uniqueness among the tribal ones. Rugs are made of silk, wool, cotton or any combination thereof, with silk being the most expensive. Tribal rugs are almost never made of silk. Cotton only rugs are not as durable, silk is the most durable and the most expensive. These carpets come in a variety of sizes and come from Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Nepal along with some from Turkey. I have listed them in the order of their desirability. Iranian ones are the most expensive, etc on down. So the silk ones from Iran are the most expensive ones. You are supposed to look not only at the front of the carpet, but also at the back of it to see if you can see the knots and tails. The more you don't see, the better. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and colors. Just when you think you've seen every color and design you can imagine, they bring out a whole new batch. And bring them out they do! Before you can blink twice they have flipped out and unfolded at least 50! It is astounding how fast they can unfurl them and refold or reroll them.
As we were finishing up today, a gentleman came in to look at rugs. The owner of the shop introduced us and the man gave me his business card. He is with the Raffles Hotel and was looking for persian rugs to lay down in the lobby of the hotel. For those of you who might not know, the Raffles Hotel is Singapore's oldest and most prestigous hotel. The hotel bar is where the Sinagpore Sling drink was invented!
The man who owns the rug shop is an Iranian by the name of Saeid (pronounced sigh eed). Very nice, well educated, speaks English very softly and very well. Came very highly recommended. He told me today never pick a rug until at least your third or fourth visit. Just come in, drink tea and look. One will call to you. As we were concluding our lesson and visit for the day, I was asking where in Iran he was from. He tells me Tehran, as is his wife. He learned the business from his father and his grandfather. He came to Singapore several years ago because it is an easier place to do business from. But he says I would love Tehran and would be treated very well there in private homes. Visits in private homes best, in public very political with much rhetoric and posturing. Many rules in public. Then he says too bad nations cannot be more civil as everyday people are to one another. Then maybe we could all get along better. Amen to that! I'll buy my rugs from him.
Faye - Shari says you read the blog all the time. Send an email to rathbun_debbie@yahoo.com and let's get acquainted. What's your favorite color to wear?
Cindy - I can never reach you! Just wanted to say hi!
Sam- are your parents trekking through the wilds of central America yet?
Patsy - cannot wait for a Wed night Mexican fest with you!
Becky - sounds like you all are having some fun coming up!
Heather - Yes, still in the future. Yes, he's still there.
