Palace Rugs

Posted July 21, 2012 by rugbuzz in Blog | No comments yet

This week an amazing assortment of unusual and large palace carpets popped onto the scene.

4. An gigantic antique palace size Feraghan measuring an astounding 12′ x 36′.  A carpet of this size and dimension is only fit for a Palace.  Literally. This carpet would be perfect for a period style home, especially given the condition and very unusual size.

3. It doesn’t matter if you’re in New York, Texas, California or somewhere in between. Pink. Is. Back. This is an unbelievably large mid century Persian Kerman of very high craftsmanship. Large open light rose/pink field with a gorgeous medallion. 15′ x 27′

2. Classic motif, timeless colors and high quality luxury. Did we mention it’s big. Very big. Measuring an astounding 16′ x 25′ this amazing palace size bokhara carpet is one of the best and biggest examples of a gul style rug we’ve seen for a while.

1. When it comes to Palace size Persian rugs – there are few to compare with this piece.

Pearl Canopy of Baroda

Posted March 9, 2011 by rugbuzz in Blog | No comments yet

Pearl Canopy of Baroda to be auctioned next month by Sotheby’s New York

Just in case you missed your chance to see or purchase the $5.5 Million ‘pearl carpet of Baroda’…

In 2009 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London a pearl canopy was exhibited. Maharaja: The Spendour of India’s Royal Courts which was open from October 10, 2009 through January 17th, 2010..

Sotheby’s is now to offer a similar canopy up for auction, which is nearly identical in embellished jewels as the Pearl Carpet of Baroda which sold several years back for $5.5 million at Sotheby’s Doha, Qatar March sale 2008.  Three years later, this is your chance and or purchase a very similar piece.

Dated at 1865, also commissioned by Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad of Baroda, both examples feature pearls, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, deerskin and silk.

Technically, these may be considered as ‘canopys.’ Perhaps semantics. It would be a misdeed to walk on these. However, rugs incorporating precious metals and stones have been noted by historians. One, in particular, is the Persian Carpet called “The Spring of Khosrow” from 6th century AD. This too featured precious metals and stones. Measuring considerably larger than the Baroda carpet, legend has it the carpet was cut up into many pieces after an Arab invasion and sold off by soldiers piece by piece.

Sources:

$5.5 Million Carpet, a Pearl-Studded Masterpiece,

Detail Images of Pearl Carpet of Baroda: Rare Carpet to be Auctioned

Pearl Carpet Breaks World Record for Most Expensive Rug – RugRag.com

The Pearl Carpet of Baroda: Perhaps the Next Most Expensive Carpet?

http://www.vam.ac.uk

http://www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/maharaja/highlights/princely-india.html#

Very Valuable and Rare Dumpster Rug Antiques Roadshow

Posted February 16, 2011 by rugbuzz in Blog | No comments yet

Straight from the curb – a very rare ‘dumpster’ rug find to not miss.

Rare Rug on Antiques Roadshow a Tekke “Animal Tree” Asmalyk from around the very early 1800′s Turkmenistan.

See more about this Dumpster Rug on Rug Rag

Photography of Rug-Weaving

Posted February 1, 2011 by rugbuzz in Blog | No comments yet

It is not often that you find a wonderful journalistic photograph of the world of rug-weaving. Found in a Product Overview for Sigma 10-20mm Lens, this photograph of a pregnant woman weaving a rug, was uploaded by a user of the lens.

Find out more information on the Sigma Lens, click here. And if you have a marvelous photograph of the rug-world, be sure to send it our way so we can post it.

Hanging a Rug

Posted January 31, 2011 by David in Blog | No comments yet

In General

hanging an oriental rug, whether a silk Qum Persian, or a family heirloom hooked rug, is among the most elegant forms of displaying a carpet.  There are three common ways to display a carpet depending on the application.  Carefully assess what characteristics your rug has: flimsy, heavy, stiff, or floppy and light.  Displaying your rug could lead to curling corners on edges or ends.  The carpet may be more susceptible to sun fade.  Decide what will be the top or bottom of the rug prior to mounting.  This should be determined if the design is uni-directional, or decide if you would like to have the rug appear lighter or darker.  For lighter, hang the carpet pile pointing towards the floor, darker toward the ceiling.

For Heavier, Thicker, Fragile and/or Floppy rugs

Sewing several long banded cloth sleeves to the reverse side of the rug to evenly distribute weight is effective for most any rug.  These sleeves can measure as short as two feet in length or even run the entire width of the carpet intended for display.  It is sometimes quite tedious to mount these longer sleeves as well as remove them, however is one of the best and safest ways to both protect and display your investment.

For Moderate Gauge, Light Weight and/or Rigid Rugs

Sewn cloth tabs on the reverse side of the rug are effective in reducing time consuming, continuous sewing.  Tabs are easier to add and remove as they’re significantly less invasive.  Working from the outside to the inside by determining opposite mounting points first will help in making a straighter, more true finished mount.  Cloth loops or tabs are often the most commonly found means of making a rug ready for display on a wall.

For Light-Weight Rigid Rugs and or Tapestries

Stitch small gauge key rings to the back of the rug.  This is the least labor intensive means to displaying a rug, however, may also result in the most damage if not properly fixed or too heavy a rug is used.  Do bear in mind, that if your rug is particularly floppy, these rings may show through on the front as small dimples while the weight of the carpet or textile pulls on mounting points.

This particular 4′x6′ (High quality triple ply wool Indian allover kashan design) had been hanging width wise for three years with only eight rings.  This rug is an example of a carpet too heavy to be mounted on rings as the weight has placed too much strain on the warps of the carpet.

General Mounting Assistance

Remember, a hand knotted rug or tapestry is not always even on the top.  Use a yard stick to note either end first, and then work inwards to determine correct mounting points and eliminate uneven weight distribution.  For smaller rugs to be mounted behind glass, be sure to specify with your frame specialist to not use any form of adhesive or permanent, irreversible techniques.

Other more uncommon methods of hanging your rug include framing, or use of velcro for very lightweight tapestries and smaller rugs.

Contact us for rug mounting hardware including clips, rods and finished decorative displays.

Mouse Rug

Posted January 31, 2011 by David in Blog | No comments yet

The Mouse rug!  Finally we’ve purchased one, and have to say it’s a fantastic way to treat yourself while working at the desk.  The detail of the design is unbelievable, and it’s at a pretty competitive price point.  We paid $19.99 for this one at a local retail Office center, although we saw some great deals for Mouse Rugs on eBay, including bulk lots!  The design seems to be in the spirit of an old 16th century Safavid silk and metal kilim which sold at Christies in 1999 for $1.4 million.

Pasta Rug, Soldier Rug, We Make Carpets

Posted January 30, 2011 by David in Blog | No comments yet

WE MAKE carpets exhibited at ‘instant nature’ in the Dutch 2009 design week. Using everyday products ‘we make carpets’ creates “temporary contemporary” rugs of all kinds.  Designers Stijn van der Vleuten and Marcia Nolte and visual artist Bob Waardenburg work without sketches or plans using everyday objects in a spontaneous and instantaneous manner to construct their carpets. With endless possibilities and a plethora of designs using unconventional carpet materials, there’s no telling what new displays will come!

pasta rug

soldier rug

Abrash

Posted October 20, 2010 by rugbuzz in Blog | No comments yet

Abrash is a term used to describe color variations found in select hand knotted and Oriental rugs. Although such inconsistencies may be perceived as ‘flaws’ in coloration, abrash is actually a much more intimate and complex characteristic.

In the instance below, we can clearly see the light blue field of the carpet has striations running horizontally through the weaving. Subtle changes in color tone such as this example below is a typical example of abrash. In many ways, abrash can augment the sophistication of a weaving, with consistent colors atop a varying field; almost rendering a three dimensional feel.

While many suggest abrash may be found more often in the upper portion of a rug (top) due to lack of initial materials, this is not always the case. In both new and old rugs, abrash can be attributed to several different factors, and nearly any point of the weaving for multiple reasons:

* Change in dye lots: When a rug is created, basic goods are acquired to begin. As the weaving progresses, and materials are used, it’s not uncommon additional wool to be purchased on a as-needed basis, or as they may be afforded. Such implementation of new dye lots may not result in a perfect match.

* Handspun wool: During the spinning process, some areas may become more tightly twisted than others. This can affect the rate of absorption and intensity of color when the material is dyed, rendering variations as well.

* A nod to the imperfection of humankind: It is widely known even the most perfect and seemingly rigid workshop rugs will have imperfections intentionally woven into the rugs to prove ‘no one is perfect but God.’

Although some may find predictable, consistent colors appealing, some of the finest, most valuable and sought after rugs and carpets of the world feature abrash. Aside from the aesthetic beauty of slight stretches of palette, many suggest abrash has even helped attribute two of the World’s most reknown twin Oriental carpets (the Ardebil carpets) as having been woven at the same time, perhaps in the same room. Abrash is so specific to the natural hand made process of making rugs it has even been adapted by machine made rugs.

Abrash can be accentuated over time, although in today’s newer weavings it may be less likely. One unique example which is sometimes seen today in select antique rugs: When fuchsine dye was introduced to rug weaving in the early 20th century to attain a deep cranberry red, the color may have matched perfectly to other colors in the weaving. Over time and exposure to sun and other, the fuchsine would age to a very pale dusty pink. If mixed with another lot of wool with similar color but different dye, this may yield an abrash affect as well, although not as originally foreseen.

Ideally for ‘workshop’ rugs (as opposed to tribal or village), abrash would be throughout a rug and consistently varying as opposed to hard, isolated and abrupt. However, both instances can render a unique and beautiful examples.

Abrash entry from RugRag.com

Sell A Rug

Posted October 19, 2010 by rugbuzz in Blog | No comments yet

Selling a rug is not always an easy proposition, especially for a private party seller. eBay and Craigslist offer excellent opportunities to sell rugs, which are absolutely good, viable options for those ready to relinquish their heirloom rug.

However, there are considerations to be made…

eBay does have fees which will be incurred, and is often better for sellers who are looking to either sell quick, or sit on their rugs for an extended period of time.

Craigslist is also an excellent viable option, although not particularly easy to navigate, and lacks in a targeted audience when it comes to rugs.

Rug Buzz is all about finding the rug you like locally, without the hassle of shipping a heavy item to a far away location.

Post your rug for sale on Rug Buzz, whether a private seller or a local company, you will receive traffic in the long-term or a lead to your store or other rugs for sale.