MSNBC video feature on GoodWeave
There was a web piece on MSNBC last week about the work of the GoodWeave organization. In addition to being happy every time the work of Goodweave is noted in the media, I was also pleasantly surprised to see that the piece also included some words of wisdom from an old friend, John Howe, who is well known in the collector circles of Rugdom. John was helping to explain the distinction between production of carpets on a commercial scale which may exploit children for cheap labor, and the transmission of weaving skills from mother to daughter in cultures with an ancient tradition of rug-weaving, such as Persia (Iran) and Turkey.…
Vintage Donegal carpet, "Editor’s Choice"
The Aesthete’s Lament featured a vintage Donegal carpet in its “Editor’s Choice” wish list of eclectic interiors items from the country house of Robert Harling, recently auctioned at Christies. This approximately 9′ x 12′ carpet exceeded the estimate but still came in at a ridiculously reasonable £1,250 (approx.$2,090), a fabulous value. When you see the carpet in its context, both in the auction catalog and as highlighted by the Editor’s Choice, the decorative potential of these period pieces is clearly recognizable. Check out the online flooring catalogue that flooring Sunshine Coast offer and see all the fantastic carpets and flooring options they have. Read the original post for details about…
Photos from our workshop
Here are some pictures from our workshop in India. (Please note the adult artisans!) The photos show some of the steps involved in the process of making a hand-knotted rug.
The art of the carpet
From the tents of nomads to the finest court ateliers of sultans, mughals, and kings, pile carpets have long symbolized wealth, rank, prestige and luxury. In the royal court workshops of the Ottoman, Persian, and Indian empires, the design and creation of carpets was the province of highly respected and skilled artisans. Carpets were not made for commercial sale, but were commissioned for palaces, as dowries, or as gifts for kings, queens, and foreign dignitaries. Inspired by these court ateliers, the King of France established carpet production for his own use, first at the Louvre and later at the Savonnerie. After the exclusive rights of the royal family were rescinded,…
FAQ Part 4: The care and feeding of your carpet
Up until now, we haven’t had a section for FAQs. We certainly DO have frequently asked questions, so we’ve prepared a series of posts which we hope will address some of those. Eventually we’ll compile a standard Q&A format for our FAQ page. This is Part 4 in the series. (See Part 1, Part 2 , and Part 3 .) We’d appreciate it very much if you’d leave a comment if you find the posts helpful, or if you have followup questions. Hand-knotted woolen rugs, which are made using the same technique as fine Persian (“oriental”) carpets, are very durable; their construction and the particular qualities of wool fiber make…