 | Ask Doctor Kabistan
Advice for the Ruglorn
by Dr. Akstafa Kabistan, Ph.D
Professor at Large, The Oozing Heart Divinity School of North Georgia
(The former S.S.R., not the state)
We solicit your questions regarding oriental rugs and other textiles, which we will attempt to answer fully and honestly. We often will refer them to experts in the field as well as solicite the advice of our readers at large. Feel free to attach jpg images.
Send your questions and/or comments to: ronocal@lr.net
Editor: Ron O'Callaghan
Oriental Rug Review
Asian Trade
Sinclair Hill Rd.
New Hampton, NH 03256
(603) 744-9191
ronocal@lr.net
http://www.rugreview.com
Lawyer letters to:
Slinkoff, Fortas and Slye
1200 Avenue of the Americas
New Hampton, NH 03256
slinkslye@shyster.net |
Newer inquiries of Doctor Kabastan are denoted by two Akstafa birds as above
Subject: Your Credentials
Dear Dr. Kabistan,
Are you a real doctor? I don't think I have heard of the school to which you claim affiliation, and it doesn't seem to be listed in any of the standard directories.
Moses Mangold
Dear Mr. Mangold, If such actually be your name,
If you mean, am I a doctor-doctor, no. That is to say, I am not a medical doctor. I am one of those other doctors. As to my alma mater and venue of my current sinecure, I will be the first to admit that it is a diploma mill, but a very good one. In fact, for a suitable fee, we could fix you up. "Doctor Moses Mangold." Nice ring, and it makes it infinitely easier to meet women, or whatever. Picture it; you could have fake calls made to your cell phone in public places, "Doctor Mangold here. Yes Mr. Sinatra, I will be right over." You could have yourself paged in hotel lobbies or posh restaurants, "The White House for Doctor Mangold," imagine the possibilities. Be in touch. Could we please get on to rug questions?
A.K., Ph.D
Subject: New to Rugs, Can I be a Doctor, too
From: Sally Baldwin slbaldwin@talon.net
To: Doctor Kabistan at: ronocal@lr.net
Dear Doctor Kabistan,
Here I am, three days into a frenzy of a glorious new passion; having
gotten a modest windfall, I've decided in my impulsive way to buy a
carpet that will make my heart sing.
So I went to Border's and bought a few books (the most helpful and the
most obvious keeper being Peter F Stone's Oriental Rug Lexicon), and
with books on lap have been zooming around the web and learning a lot of
words that I've never seen either in or out of crossword puzzles. (And I
used to write definitions for crossword puzzles; and made a living at it,
imagine.)
And I unrolled my great-grandmother's red and blue carpet (which I now
figure to be Ersari, last quarter of the 19th c, about 8x10') which has
been rolled up ever since I moved out of my apartment in West
Philadelphia. Now this is a ratty rug; it has been used hard by several
generations, and then repaired by, oh, maybe a troop of Brownie Scouts. Or
possibly my grandmother, who was fairly slapdash. At least it's bad
around the edges, but the color of it, the wonderful reds and blues--it
has always made my heart sing, and I'm glad I unrolled it. I also am
looking at it more closely to learn about how rugs are made. And why its
colors seem to glow.
But what really moves me to write you is that you have made it sound
like so much fun to get my doctorate. Dang it, YES, I'd "love"to be Dr.
Baldwin. Not that I want to spend my windfall on a diploma, I'd rather
have a rug, but tell me what it costs these days to claim O(ozing). H(eart). Divinity
for an alma mater?
Best,
Sally
Dear Doctor Baldwin,
See how easy it is. I am surprised that the handed down rug is an Ersari. Every red and blue grandmother rug Doctor Kabistan has ever met was a Sarouk. No matter. It sounds as if you have the prototypical "study rug", i.e., a rug that is so whipped that you can study its construction as readily from the front as from the back. If your rug was made by Ersaris (nomads gone sedentary) it undoubtedly has brown wool warps, 2 strands, z-spun, s-plied, weft and pile the same, with Persian knot, flat, open to the right, 40 to 50 knots to the square inch. But you knew that already, didn't you?
If you could contrive to send Doctor Kabistan some images of the rug (print medium rather than transparency, even better, as jpgs), perhaps an overall view, a closeup of a border corner and part of the field to include a complete gul (see Stone, p. 89) and minor devices, and a close up of the back of the rug with a ruler in the picture for reference, we may be able to put a finer point on this.
Well, congratulations Dr. Baldwin, but, remember, no brain surgery. We are not that kind of doctor, now, are we?
Best regards,
D.K., Ph.D
Subject: Seeking Information on a "Kandahar" rug.
Terry & Barbara Gentry
To: Doctor Kabistan at: ronocal@lr.net
Dear Doctor Kabistan,
I am seeking information on an old carpet about which I have little
information. It is 9' X 12' wool on what I believe is
a cotton warp. On the back, the only markings are "Kandahar" with the
letters L.D.P. DEL. The design is on a deep red field with a medallion
in the center of several points. It appears to be a persian design of
some type. There are smaller medallions around the center medallion.
And, there are borders around the outer edge of the carpet.
I am unfamiliar with "Kandahar." It is perhaps an area of the middle
east, or a dealer or wholesaler??
Any suggestion about this carpet?
Thank you.
The Gentrys
Dear Gentrys,
Kandahar is a city in south, central Afghanistan, which has suffered terribly during the late war and continuing civil war. We are not familiar with any group of rugs that bears that name. Perhaps the inscription was added to the rug as it passed through a rug depot in Kandahar, though why it would bear English lettering rather than Farsi., is a puzzlement. The London firm, O.C.M., was active in Afghanistan, perhaps your rug was one of their products. A less romantic possibility is that your rug is a machine-made product. Doctor Kabistan has a wisp of a memory that one of the American firms used "Kandahar" as a style name, perhaps Karastan or Capel. We invite readers to pitch in on this one.
Yours Truly,
D.K., Ph.D
Subject: Antique wall hanging - Moghul origin ??
From: Carsten Steenberg
To Doctor Kabistan,
I am trying to verify the origin and style of a very old (min. 150 years old) wall hanging in my possession. Recently a specialist from American Museum of Natural History indicated that the centerpiece could be from the Moghul Period and much older ( 500 years old) than the border that is sewn on to it. Could you be so kind as to give your opinion of the piece. We may be interested in selling it. Attached are an overall image and a detail.
Thank you in advance
Overall view of the piece
Detail of the piece
Facts:
Dimensions: 5'2" wide x 8'2" long
Material: cotton/linen with silk thread embroidery
Age: It is thought to be at least 150-200 years old.
Condition: good (need minor repair)
Origin: Persia, Moghul, India ?????
Design Style: Tabriz, Moghul ????
Motive: congratulations on a wedding with writing.
Joanne & Carsten Steenberg
Dear Joanne & Carsten,
Well, you have Doctor Kabistan by the patent leather pump. As will often happen we will throw this query out to our readership, that great, amorphous, seething fount of information and misinformation.
A. K., Ph.D
Subject: Mughal Textile
From: "J. Barry O'Connell Jr." jboc@erols.com
To: Doctor Kabistan at: ronocal@lr.net
Dear Dr. Kabistan,
I would like to suggest that the antique wall hanging that Mr. Steenberg
suspected was Mughal is actually Persian from the time of Fath Ali Shah.
I base this on the raiment of the figures and in particular I draw your
attention to the headgear in the detail picture. My first reaction was
the man looked Zand to me but I had doubts so I did a little more
checking and determined his headgear is of a type seen in the early transitional
period of the Qajar dynasty. In a now destroyed mural in the Negarestan
Palace in Teheran it clearly showed men in the same style clothes,
headgear and facial hair. I mention facial hair because just as now
fashions contantly changed, then, and in 1815 when the Negarestan mural was painted that style mustache was in vogue. Since the headgear was not in fashion until about
1815, I suggest that it must date 19th century or later. This is also
supported by the appearance of women musicians in Moslem type garb. Had the
Mughals depicted women musicians they would normally have dressed them as
Hindu women as opposed to the garments more in keeping with what is
normally seen in Moslem lands. I suggest that the evidence supports an
attribution of Persia, 19th century or later.
Best wishes,
Barry
J. Barry O'Connell Jr.
http://earth.oconnell.net/rugnotes
Subject: Reproduction Aubussons from China
From: "Michael Miller" asea@one.net.au
To: ronocal@lr.net
Dear sir / madam
I wonder if you have any information about reproduction Aubusson carpets made in China. If you know where these can be obtained I would greatly appreciate your response. In the meantime greetings from Australia.
Michael Miller
Dear Mr. Miller,
"sir / madam," indeed! You must think Doctor Kabistan is one of those "whatevers" mentioned in an above response, but at least you pose a legitimate rug question, though whether or not the rugs are legitimate is an altogether different question. Just joking
Kevin and Jeffrey. Actually, the principals of both firms we mention below are long time friends of Doctor Kabistan. In fact, I have fixed both of them up with their own (suitable for framing) doctorate degrees. Did you ever notice when you go to your doctor's office he or she has all those framed degrees on the wall. Would it not be more informative if they were required to post their final medical school exam grades? Well, to the matter at hand. We know of two manufacturers and importers of Aubusson reproductions made in China:
French Accents
102 Madison Ave., 9th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212)-686-6097
frenchaccents@102madison.com
http://www.102madison.com
"Regal" Aubusson Design No. 5013, sizes 6x9 to 15'23"
Contact: Kevin Rahmanan
Renaissance Carpet & Textiles
200 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10016
(212) 696-0080
http//www.renaissance.com
Aubussons, Savonneries and Tapestries
Contact: Jeffrey Soliemani
Dr. Kabistan realizes that these firms are hardly local to you, but they may be able to refer you to a Southern Hemisphere source. You may also try contacting an old friend of ours who is a bit closer to home, Nigel Dalton who is (was?) rug buyer for the Grace Brother's Department Store chain in Australia. We have been out of touch with Nigel for a few years (a bit of unpleasantness with the U.S. Federal authorities over our diploma venture; you might say we have been vacationing at Club Fed.) and we hope that he and his stores are prospering. If you are successful in reaching him, please tell him on our behalf that the promised several cases of Fosters never arrived.
We wish you the very best of luck in your quest and it is always good to hear from the Big Isle.
A.K., Ph.D
N.B. For those scratching their heads: Aubussons were first woven in France in the 17th century. They started off replicating Turkish designs but, eventually an indigenous design vocabulary developed which we may loosely call Empire (pronounced Ohmpier). Though Aubussons were woven as both flatwoven and piled carpets, it is for flatweaves the name is best known. As flatweaves they are inherently fragile. Long disdained in the market, over the past decade of so they caught on with designers and now sell at a high premium. Legend has it that the famous rug dealer C. John of London filled a back room of his establishment with Aubussons he had acquired over the years for a pittance and later sold for a fortune. We hope the legend is true. The pile counterpart to the Aubusson was the Savonnerie, which was much more finely woven than the pile Aubussons, and much more popular. Never say you don't learn anything from Doctor Kabistan's ramblings.
Subject: Tapestry Hanging Hardware
From: "R. E. Kroll" torp64@ici.net
To: Doctor Kabistan at: ronocal@lr.net
Dear Sir;
I am desperately trying to find hardware to hang a tapestry or oriental
rug, can you help??? I would prefer a supplier in the Boston area.
thank you,
R. E. Kroll
Dear Mr. Kroll,
It seems that everyone has their own method for hanging textiles. There is the sewn loop school, velcro, carpet clips and so on. We prefer to nail those thin strips used by broadloom installers to hold down carpeting onto the wall and carefully place the upper edge of the carpet on the tacks. Done carefully and provided the carpet is not to heavy (we are not sure you want to hang a new Tibetan rug this way) there should be no resulting damage. Though called tackless strips, the are, in fact, full of little tacks. These would be suitable for healthy rugs but probably not for a tapestry. Carpet dealers use metal clips but that may not be an aesthetic you would want to introduce into your home. All carpet dealers have to resolve this question one way or another, so we suggest you call around and see what they use and where the get the hardware. Perhaps they could sell you something that will suit your needs. We will embed a link here to our oriental rug dealer list. Just search on "Massachusetts" and you will find several Eastern Massachusett's dealers we recommend.
Good Luck,
A. K., Ph.D
Subject: Study Project, Industrialization and the Carpet Industry
From: villeneuve1@superonline.com (Tulin Behiye Kocagoz)
To: Doctor Kabistan at: ronocal@lr.net
Dear Sir,
I'm a senior student studying in Turkey, in American Colligiate Institude. This year we are doing Investigative-search, where you search for a
topic and come up with an informative writing about the topic. And I chose "Carpets & Rugs" as my topic. I'm mainly interested on finding an
answers to my question "Is industrization bad for handmade carpets? and what will happen in the future?" If you can help me find the answer to my question, I will be thankful. Or just tell me the place in your site, because I believe this site has that information. Thank you!
Yours, Ahmet Kocagoz
Greetings Ahmet,
You have an interesting topic for research. If we look at the Iranian model the answer is yes, The Shah's industrialization policy created significant migration from rural areas to urban areas. Increased wages due somewhat to industrialization but more to increased oil production raised wages generally and reduced the incentive to raise sheep, spin and dye the wool and weave carpets. Iranian carpet prices rose, and there was the paradox of both a scarcity of Persian carpets and degradation of quality of those that were available. This was not a good equation for holding on to market share. It is like the old tradesman's joke, "Our work may not be good, but we are slow." Another interesting question would be how industrialization affected the tribal areas in southern Iran.
The picture is less clear as we look at subsequent events. Because of the carpet market vacuum created by the Iranian situation, the carpet industries in India, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Romania, and, yes, Turkey boomed. So, you could say that the Shah's industialization policy impacted the carpet industry in Iran negatively, but it had a very positive effect on the carpet industries in the other countries. After the Islamic revolution, the Shah's industrialization campaign was abandoned, but the Iranian carpet industry has not regained its dominant market-share (in 1970 Iran commanded roughly 85% of the international carpet market. By the mid-1980s, Iran's market share had dropped to about 14%. The American embargo on Iranian goods, largely carpets came in 1987. By the mid-90s Iran's market share was in the 20% range.) It seemed easy for the Shah to convert his country from rural/agricultural to urban/industrialized (driven by oil production). I would guess that it would be much less clear-cut in societies such as that of India and China where in vast areas of those countries the agricultural life is so well established.
I don't know how you came to our site, probably through the side door by a search engine. Go through the front door via rugreview.com. Search in the indexes on "Turkish Rugs", "Anatolia," Persian Rugs," Iran." You will find a lot of relevant material by searching on Wilber, Don. He wrote extensively about Iran and the rug industry. A search on Opie, James, will bring you to a lot of material on the tribal areas and tribal peoples of Iran. Once you have developed further questions we would be pleased to assist. further. Where are you located? If you are in or near Istanbul or Konya, we can refer you to some carpet industry friends. Good luck
A.K., Ph.D
Subject: Oriental Rugs in Southern Maine
From: Tom Foley
To: Doctor Kabistan at: ronocal@lr.net
Hello,
We are interested in buying carpets for our home. Do you know if your
magazine is available in Southern Maine in any libraries?
Can you recommend any dealers in this area?
Try our web site http://www.virtualcities.com/ons/me/k/mek9502.htm
thanks,
Tom & Maryellen Foley
Dear Tom and Maryellen,
Doctor Kabistan doubts that Oriental Rug Review is to be found in libraries in your area. However, we are putting more material up on this site every week, so stay tuned. I refer you to our Oriental Rug Dealers that we Know, Trust, and can Recommend List (search on "Maine") for dealers in your area. The dealer we know best, and we are sure there are many others there, is Tad Runge.
A. K., Ph.D
Subject: request for information - Crossword Puzzle Clue
From: Ashley Scherger
Australia
To: Doctor Kabistan
ronocal@lr.net
Dear Doctor Kabistan,
I am a crossword fanatic and am stuck on a clue I was hoping you
could help me with. The clue I have is "Indian cotton rug" and the
letters I have, so far, are d-r-ie. Thanks.
Sandy Scherger.
schergs@netconnect.com.au
Dear Ms. Scherger
Try u-r
A.K., Ph.D
Subject: request for information - Crossword Puzzle Clue
From: Ashley Scherger
Australia
To: Doctor Kabistan
ronocal@lr.net
Dear Doctor Kabistan,
Thank you so much for the clue and particularly for the quick response. Wish me luck on the balance of the puzzle.
Sandy Scherger.
schergs@netconnect.com.au
Subject: New Interest in Oriental Rugs
From: Alan Fuller
To: Doctor Kabistan at: ronocal@lr.net
Dear Doctor Kabistan,
Of all things I've just moved from NH to CA and have developed an interest in oriental rugs. We are novice rug buyers and are interested in a rug for a family room, there are only two of us, my hubby and I, the area is actually about 20X14, interested in carpet +- 10X14 with less intricate pattern than a floral.
Questions are:
1. What is an appropriate price for differing carpets in this size?
2. Can you recommend places, we are an hour from San Francisco and Silicon Valley...?
Thanks so much!!!
Betsy Fuller
Dear Ms Fuller
First, I will not give even a ball park price for a certain type of rug in a certain size because that tends to reduce rugs to commodity status. There is so much out there to see, and I think it would be unfair to you and your future rug if you got a price/size ratio fixed in your mind. It sounds like you may be a candidate for a Woven Legends or Ariana type rug. Both suppliers have excellent selections of larger geometrics made with natural dyes and handspun wool. I refer you to our list of dealers that we know and trust. You will find a pretty good contingent of California dealers there. Using the list, call around a bit and ask specifically if the dealer carries those lines. If you have trouble finding them, get back to us.
A.K., Ph.D
Subject: Rug, What is it?
From: Robert J. Williams
To: Doctor Kabistan at: ronocal@lr.net>
Hi,
I have a rug approx. 4' x 6' It has animals killing each other, (blood and all). I have never seen anything like it, any idea what this rug is called?
Robert J. Williams, Ph.D.
Hello Doctor Williams,
I see you are also one of those other doctors, rather than a doctor-doctor. You probably didn't get your doctorate through the mail as I did. You haven't given us much to go on (though more than the woman who simply said, "my rug is red and blue, what is it worth?"). It sounds like an animal-combat design, probably from one of the Persian urban rug centers, perhaps Isphahan or Nain. If so, it is probably finely woven. It may also have silk warps. If there is any way you can send us an image of the face and a close-up of the back with a ruler in the picture and, perhaps, a close up of the fringe threads, we may be able to tell you more. Details on how you acquired it and what you were told about it can also be helpful.
A.K., Ph.D
Subject: New London Gallery
From: "Gary & Ianthe Bortz" gizbor@globalnet.co.uk
To: ronocal@lr.net
Dear Doctor Kabistan,
We are a new gallery in London specializing in very high quality Caucasian,
Anatolian and Persian rugs, kilims, bags, soumacs, etc. We also handle
Precolumbian woven and feather textiles. Our website is www.lenkoran.co.uk
We would like to link with your site if you are interested.
Regards, Gary Bortz
Dear Mr. Bortz,
The editor of this web site has been a bit pokey about getting our links page together. I don't even have to ask the question, I simply knock on his office door and he shouts in response, "I'm working on it!%&$##! The best I can promise in the short term is to add you to our Oriental Rug Dealers list with a link to your site. Even that will take a few days.
Best of luck with the new gallery and stay in touch.
A.K., Ph.D
Subject: Rug Dealers in Istanbul
From: djr: djr@bellatlantic.net
To: ronocal@lr.net
Hello Doctor Kabistan,
Can you recommend a good rug dealer in Istanbul?
Thanks,
djr
Well, hello yourself djr,
There are many, many rug dealers in Istanbul. Were we to name a few, those few would be very pleased. However, the many others would be very grumpy, indeed, and there is nothing quite like an out-of-sorts Turkish rug dealer. I would rather refer you to an article that ran in Oriental Rug Review a few years ago. Though dated, the information should be valid.
Gullible's Travels, by Steve Price, Ruggie as tourist in Turkey
A.K., Ph.D
Subject: Monica Lewinsky and Oriental Rugs
It is I, Doctor Kabistan,
Ahha! I am willing to wager that you thought even Doctor Kabistan was above linking oriental rugs and Monica Lewinsky. You over-estimated the good doctor once again. It all began on hearing that our dear friend David Levine of David Levine Oriental Rugs, Concord, New Hampshire, attempted to include the following line in his local newspaper (The Concord Monitor) ad, "We have rugs that any White House intern would be proud to kneel on." Well, the editors at the Monitor were having none of that. Indeed, they would relent not even after Mr. Levine pointed out that they were daily printing much more prurient prose in their news columns. Last evening we noted the following in Mr. Levine's ad, "Plush Tibetan rugs, Thick Persian Gabbeh, Fit for an oval office." A small victory. Lastly, on Dr. Seuss' birthday the following slipped over our cyber-transom. Do you, gentle readers, like green eggs and ham?
Mr Starr:
I am Starr. Starr I are.
I'm a brilliant barri-star.
I'm here to ask, as you'll soon see,
Did you grope Miss Lew-in-sky?
Did you grope her in your house?
Did you grope beneath her blouse?
Did you give her that awful beret
Did you our trust betray
Did she give you gifts and ties?
Were you spied by prying eyes?
Mr Clinton:
Did you make her wear a bug
And tell her to do it on the rug?
I did not do that here or there!
I did not do that anywhere!
I did not do that in a chair!
I went not near her giant hair!
I did not join-even for fun,
The Mile High Club in Air Force One,
So stow your feathers and your tar,
I did not do her Starr you are!
Mr Starr:
Did you smile?
Did you Flirt?
Did you peek beneath her skirt?
And did you tell the girl to lie,
When called upon to testify?
Mr. Clinton:
That is it, you've gone too far!
I do not like you Starr you are!
I will not answer any more!
In fact, I think I'll start a war!
The public's easy to distract,
When bombs are falling on Iraq!
Doctor Kabistan's Green eggs recipe: Dice a small green tomato, fresh from the garden. Saute it briefly with olive oil in your 10" Griswald cast iron skillet. Add scrambled eggs
Subject: Identification request, translation
From: "Redvers A. King" abba01@globalnet.co.uk
To: ronocal@lr.net
Dear Doctor Kabistan,
I am in hopes that one or more of your readers will help with the following:
Inscription Translation needed.
Many thanks in advance
Redvers A King
Dear Mr. King,
We hope that someone among our readers can help with the translation of your inscription. Several of our readers have inquired about the intricacies of converting Arabic dates (AH) to (AD). We take the opportunity of your query to present a table of date conversions that we have borrowed from the late Don Wilber's A Descriptive Catalogue of Dated Rugs and of Inscribed Rugs. We are sure that Don wouldn't mind. He probably borrowed it from someone else.
A.K., Ph.D
Subject: Turkish Rug Dealers on the Net
From: "Young Partners Inc." youngpartners@sim.net.tr
To: Doctor Kabistan at: ronocal@lr.net
Hi Doctor Kabistan,
we are third generation carpet dealers in Konya Turkey.
Our frend Saul (Yale Barodofsky) told us about your web site.
Is all your magazine on the web?
Thanks
Young Partners
Greetings from Doctor Kabistan,
Your business is well known to us. Saul Yale Barodofsky has written many articles about his travels in Anatolia and of his great respect for your company and his great affection for Çemal Palamatsu. In fact, we have just put an article up about Çemal and Saul travelling to Azerbaijan where Çemal's mother is the museum administrator. We will be very pleased to add you to our international list of rug dealers that we know, trust and can recommend. Eventually we will have every article that appeared in Oriental Rug Review on this web page. Thank you for your interest and please stay in touch
A.K, Ph.D
Subject: Oriental Rug Dealers in Pittsburgh
From: Gary Seem
To: Doctor Kabistan at ronocal@lr.net
Dear Doctor Kabistan,
I saw you name and e-mail address while searching for info on Oriental rugs
and thought you might be able to offer some assistance.
My mother has some supposedly nice Oriental rugs and is considering selling
some of them. A dealer in Pittsburgh (where my mother lives) suggested that
my mother pursue dealers in the NY area since she will get a better price
there than in Pittsburgh. Is this true? If so, do you have any
recommendations on who she might work with in NY? If not true, do you know
anyone in Pittsburgh?
Thanks,
Gary Seem
Dear Mr. Seem
,
At the expense of possibly losing some rug trade friends in NYC, Doctor Kabistan is going to advise you to forage about in your old home town for advice on, and possible sale of your mother's rugs. The dealer we know best in Pittsburgh is Pat Forbes at O'Bannon Oriental Rugs, though we are sure there are other fine dealers there as well. You will find her listed in our Oriental Rug Dealers that We Know list. (Search on Pennsylvania) The number one reason we advise dealing closer to home is simple logistics. Your mother and the rugs are in Pittsburgh. The New York dealers are not. No matter who you deal with, they will offer a wholesale not a retail price. Indeed, they will probably offer a lower than wholesale price because they will probably end up wholesaling the rugs themselves. All of this advice could be turned on its head depending on what the rugs are. Chances are they are not world class pieces, otherwise we would be advising auction (Sotheby's, Christie's, Skinner, Grogan), or specific high end dealers, perhaps in New York, perhaps in Europe, perhaps even in New Hampshire. Anyway, please let us know what transpires.
A.K, Ph.D
Subject: Art Deco rugs
From: Thomas Tuck
To: Doctor Kabistan - ronocal@lr.net
Dear Doctor Kabistan,
I'm interested in finding rugs or information about rugs from the 1920's and 30's in an Art Deco style. Is there a particularly useful source of which I should be aware? I did not see anything specifically on the topic in Oriental Rug Review's back issues. I know that many were Chinese and that some of the best were created under the guidance of a man named Nichols. I've also seen several
Continental examples in catalogues and at auction. Where can I turn to find out more? I appreciate any assistance you might be able to offer.
Sincerely, Thomas Kuck
Dear Mr. Tuck,
Yes Nichols was one of the great figures in the rug world in the 1930s. He started up production in China on the naive, but quite workable idea that the Chinese didn't know how to make their rugs suitable for the American market. He introduced softer shades of color and such touches as accenting design elements by carving away some of the surrounding pile. He was doing fine until the Japanese came along. After the Japanese left he did fine once again for a brief period until the agrarian reformers came along. One of his chief outlets in the U.S. was Pande Cameron, a New York based rug wholesaler. One of Pande's principals, the late Hilton Hodges spirited a very ill Nichols out of China just ahead of said agrarian reformers. In the thirties people who were travelling to China could order Nichols rugs from catalogs. When their cruise ships docked at Shanghai and other ports the rugs would be waiting for them nicely wrapped up in bamboo baskets. We wonder if any of these elegant containors exist today. Nichol's main competition was the Fette-Li Company, another American-owned firm. We have done a couple of articles on Fette-Li and we will make every effort to get them up on the site soon. You can see a pair of Fette-Li small rugs in the "Pine Tree" design on the Asian Trade section of this site. Go to Tribal Rugs at Asian Trade.
A.K, Ph.D
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