Resources for Collectors of Area Rugs
Dennis B. Marquand Oriental Rug and Textile Books' website is focused solely on books you can buy on oriental rugs, carpets and other ethnographic and historical textiles. It includes full collections of publications such as Hali: Hali - The International Magazine of Antique Carpet and Textile Art and Oriental Rug Review Magazine."
This article titled Afghan War Rugs: If It Walks Like a Duck..." by J. Barry O'Connell, Jr. is about a subgroup of Afghan war rugs that does not fit the parameters of what is expected from an Afghan rug. Thus the duck metaphor: The problem is that every so often it is not a duck and calling it one does not make it so, says the author. He looks as various Afghan war rugs and analyzes them. He said the easiest way to tackle the issue was to develop a thorough set of criteria and apply it to a large sample, and then each war rug should fall into a traditional weaving group. So he provides the criteri, based on knots, warps, wefts, pile, size, selvage, ends, pile depth, colors, quality and condition. It's a very detailed and informative article on the subject.
This is a Turkish carpets and rugs portal site that includes a discussion forum and a magazine on Turkish carpets published monthly called Alive. The site also includes a searchable database of more than 700 Turkish rug firms,
Popular book titles for rug collectors, including Contemporary Rugs: Art and Design by Christopher Farr, Dhurries: History, Pattern, Technique, Identification by Nada Caldecott, Weaving a World: Textiles and the Navajo Way of Seeing by Paul Zolbrod, Chasing Rainbows: Collecting American Indian Trade & Camp Blankets by Barry Friedman, Carpets and Rugs of Europe and America by Sarah B Sherrill and other titles about tribal rugs, antique rugs and tapestries and oriental carpets. History and origins of rugs and their makers are included.
ARTS is an annual show put organized by the Antique Rug & Textile Art Association (ARTAA). ARTS is the premiere rug and textile event of the year as the place where all the renowned collectors from across the world gather. But anyone is encourage to join who has an interested in antique textile art or a curiosity about design, traditional cultures, unique hand-made ethnographic art, or a sensitivity or empathy for color and texture. Each show typically features fascinating exhibitions, and public events including tours and seminars.
When Thomas Stocker looks at a century-old woven rug from Turkey or Persia, he sees a painting. He translates the bold geometry and color from the language of the loom to the painter's canvas. While many works are literal interpretations of existing carpets, other works synthesize traditional expressions with themes in contemporary culture and aesthetics. The Massachusetts-based artist currently is featured in several Northeast exhibitions for his work in carpet and rug painting. He paints in all styles, from Americana to Navajo.
This is a non-profit organization established for the understanding and appreciating or Oriental rugs and textiles. Its members are the rug and textile societies throughout North America. It holds bi-annual conferences and every two years a large three-day conference in a major U.S. city is held for the advancement of and education about Oriental rugs and textiles. The site provides a directory listing of its member rug societies with information on number of members, when founded, contact information and website, where available.
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