Resources for Collectors of Area Rugs
This article originally appeared in Oriental Rug Review Vol VI, No. 10 (January, 1987). The author discusses the passionate pursuit of objects of artistic significance, are dangers of a more existential nature. There is a rule of thumb in rug collecting circles, according to the article, that the more you understand about rugs, the less you know. That's only the beginner collector who speaks with any assurance about rugs, the article says. It’s a good look at the attitudes that can shape the rug-collecting industry.
This Web site brings rug making and collecting home to the United States. The society provides an international forum for the exchange and dissemination of information about textiles worldwide, from artistic, cultural, economic, historic, political, social, and technical perspectives. It was created in 1987, and is run by a Board of Directors from museums and universities in North America. Its 500 members worldwide include museum curators, teachers, historians, artists, students, dealers, and collectors. The Web site is useful because it keeps track of textile and rug collecting events across the U.S.
This Web site offers advice from a rug collector who knows his stuff. He discusses how to purchase rugs as a dealer, learn about rug pricing factors, how to use rugs as an investment, and more. A section about why you should choose handmade rugs over carpets in your home. This Oriental rug site has some valuable non-commercial information that can help anyone interested in rugs learn more about collecting.
This conference began in 1976 and features exhibitions. Probably the most notable are "The Eastern Carpet in the Western World" & "Carpet Magic" (London 1983), "Orient Stars" (Hamburg 1993), and "Studies in Colour and Geometry: Turkish Pile Carpets from the Christopher Alexander Collection" & "Anatolian Kilims: The McCoy Jones Collection" (San Francisco, 1990). As well as exhibitions from museum collections worldwide, ICOC exhibitions have always featured the collections of "local" collectors, such as "Oriental Rugs from Atlantic Collections" (Philadelphia 1996). In addition, since 1986, the conference has hosted an ever more successful Dealers' Fair. An international conference exists on many levels. As a forum for academic papers, it also serves as a godfather to research. The conference also provides a good meeting place to discuss fashions in rugs and theories. Perfect for newcomers because of the easily understandable forums.
The Philadelphia Oriental Rug Society is a non-profit organization offering its membership opportunities to enrich their knowledge and appreciation of hand knotted carpets and textiles. Founded in March 1999, our members number more than ninety individuals, primarily from the greater Philadelphia and Wilmington area. The group meets six to eight times a year for seminars and other forums, featuring speakers. The Philadelphia Oriental Rug Society is a member of the American Conference on Oriental Rugs (ACOR), a nationwide organization established for the understanding and appreciation of Oriental rugs and textiles. Site includes member galleries, helpful links, a news section and a forum to meet others.
The Armenian Rugs Society, founded in 1980, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, documentation, and advancement of the artistic and cultural contributions made by Armenian rug weavers to the rich and vibrant history of textile arts. The Society has had exhibitions in Washington, D. C., Worcester, Watertown, New York City, Fort Worth, Richmond, Philadelphia, Memphis, Fresno, and San Francisco; and internationally, in Montreal, London, Geneva, and Yerevan. Site includes membership information, current exhibition notes, news, links and more.
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