Author: Uwe Matt
Antique carpets add a touch of grandeur and glamour to your home
or office interiors speaking volumes about your rich and
sophisticated tastes! Antique decorative carpets are
extravagantly beautiful home furnishings and solid art
investments. Antique carpets and rugs are not just decorative
items but pieces of tradition, ethnicity and true class
portraying a continuous cultural tradition dating back thousands
of years! Antique carpets and rugs represent enormous range in
motifs and color harmonies and you will simply go berserk seeing
the diverse combination of rich antique colors and heavy
intricate weaving that are just too awesome!
The diverse range of antique carpet pieces that you will come
across while shopping for them are mostly exquisite Oriental
carpets and rugs portraying the mystery and legends of the far
off Oriental lands! Antique carpets and rugs are mostly imported
from China, Persia, India, Afghanistan, Caucasus and Turkey.
Some of the famous weaving areas of such antique Oriental
carpets include Oushak, Sultanabad, Tabriz, Kashan, Agra, and
many more.
Antique carpets and rugs have a more artistic integrity, as they
are exclusively hand-woven! So get ready to pay handsomely for
these artifacts that are exotic and so royal! Various art
dealers and carpet galleries all over the world are doing brisk
business selling these antique beauties at extravagant prices!
Clients are ready to pay just about anything to own one and
redefine their home décor status!
Following are some of the famous varieties of antique Oriental
carpets that you will come across while shopping for them!
* Antique Sultanabad carpet * Antique Bidjar carpet * Antique
Tabriz carpet * Antique Agra carpet * Antique Amritsar carpet *
Antique Kashan carpet * Antique North Indian carpet * Antique
Serapi carpet * Antique Heriz carpet * Antique Kurdish carpet *
Antique Kirman carpets * Antique Chinese carpets * Antique
Samarkand carpets * Antique Lavar carpet * Antique Oushak carpet
* Antique North West Persian carpet * Antique Saraouk carpet
You will also come across antique European carpets depicting
the history and artistic grandeur of the ancient European
period! These European antique carpets are also hand woven in
the carpet weaving areas of Savonnerie, Aubusson, and Ax
Minster! Some of the famous European antique carpets that you
would love to possess are as follows:
* Antique Ax minister carpet * Antique Savonnerie carpet *
Antique Aubusson carpet * Antique Cuenca carpet * Antique
English Needlework carpet * Antique English Pile carpet *
Antique Don Egan carpet * Antique Besserabian carpet
So if you want to add that luster and glamour to your home or
office and are ready to spend quite a bit of fortune on these
exquisite pieces of art then you just can't wait a single moment!
First and foremost contact several reliable, knowledgeable and
genuine art dealers and art galleries who deal in antique
carpets and rugs exclusively and have profound knowledge about
the various aspects of a good and genuine antique carpet! They
can guide you in selecting the best one as per your budget and
tastes.
Also you've got to do a bit of 'homework' yourself too! Visit
lots of dealers and educate yourself about dyes, wools, design
quality and weaving styles. Touch rugs and scrutinize them
carefully! Beware of machine-made synthetic carpets that some
art dealers spuriously project as antique carpet!
Some tips for you that will come handy while buying <a
href="http://www.directcarpetcleaning.com/site2">antique
carpets</a> and rugs:
* You have to be careful and thoughtful while analyzing each
piece of antique carpet. * You also have to try and understand
the age and origin of the carpet that will in turn give you a
closer insight about the quality of the carpet! * You should
also look to see if the edge and end borders are all there in
the antique carpet you intend to buy as the end and edge borders
sometimes are lost through use or are cut out intentionally!
Remember the borders determine the value of your carpet! * Watch
out for holes and moth attacks that are very common when you are
dealing with antique carpets and rugs! These problems have to be
attended before you buy the carpet! * Always deal with dealers
who have the prices marked on the rugs! See to it that your
dealer sticks to these fixed prices! Most reputable dealers have
fixed and constant prices and a well-defined policy about
discounts.
Author: Jim Grayson
Article:
The floor of your home says a lot about your style and
personality. It's the first thing that people see when they
enter and they're constantly reminded of it since they're
standing on it. A lot of homeowners opt to go with hardwood
floors these days and, indeed, these can be quite lovely...but
they are hard, therefore the name. Sadly, carpets are known for
attracting huge amounts of dust and other undesirables, so
they're not always an option. Have no fear; a wonderful balance
can be achieved by using rugs or, more specifically, oriental
rugs.
Oriental rugs are hand-woven pieces, made from wool, silk or
cotton, and created in what would be considered one of the
Eastern countries. The major producers of oriental rugs are
Iran, China, Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan and India. Although
sold there, genuine oriental rugs are not woven in the United
States. Instead, 'oriental design' rugs are manufactured using
machines. Perhaps the most famous examples of authentic oriental
rugs are Persian rugs.
Let's get this straight from the start. A Persian rug is an
example of an oriental rug, but not all oriental rugs are
necessarily Persian rugs. A Persian rug is defined as one which
was specifically woven in present-day Iran. These rugs are
beautifully designed and have become a major source of income
for many Iranians as the worldwide demand continues to grow.
However, the greatest demand is not for contemporary pieces but
rather for antiques. Antique Persian rugs are typically over 100
years old and, as such, originated from the former Persian
Empire. They are categorized mainly on the basis of their
designs. Basically, the name says it all. Flower rugs will
feature flowered patterns, and animal rugs have animals on them.
Antique Persian rugs are very distinctive and offer a striking
balance of color and elegance.
They can cost quite a bit, though, depending on the age and the
intricacy of the design. On the other hand, antique Persian rugs
are, of course, long-lasting. They've made it past a hundred
years so I doubt very much that they won't last the duration of
your lifetime. Antique Persian rugs are therefore an excellent
choice if you're looking for something that you want to keep for
a long time, or that you'd like to pass down through the
generations. In other words, they're a great investment and they
look good too. Antique Persian rugs can enhance the décor of any
living space for years to come.
About the author:
Jim Grayson makes a living in the field of research. If you have
found this article useful, visit his specialist resource sites,
http://www.orientalrugwarehouse.info and
http://www.wholesale-carpets-and-rugs.info. For more general
information on this topic and others, visit
http://www.instant-knowledge.com.
Author: David Castriota
Article:
The Oriental carpet has always been synonymous with exotic
luxury, elegant design, and a comfortable, highly aestheticized
environment. From the earliest times, humans have needed to
embellish and ornament the circumstances in which they lived,
and the medium of woven carpets soon emerged to meet such
requirements. Carpet production is attested from ancient times.
Flatwoven floor coverings are probably as old as textiles and
architecture. The oldest knotted pile carpets can be attested by
the sixth century B.C., but their production may well be
considerably older. Some experts believe that pile carpets
originated among tent-dwelling nomadic peoples to the east of
Central Asia as a more decorative substitute for animal hides,
providing comfort and insulation as well as decoration. Carpet
making reached the Near East through contact with such nomadic
peoples. Since relations between Central Asian nomads and the
Near East were more or less constant, the production of pile
carpets in the latter region was probably stimulated and
influenced by nomadic traditions again and again.
This process first becomes clear in the medieval period,
between the eleventh and the fourteenth centuries, when various
Central and East Asian peoples like the Turks and Mongols came
to power across the eastern Islamic world, bringing with them
traditions of carpet making that were by now many centuries old.
The earliest Near Eastern carpets of this kind are those of
Seljuk Turkey and those made in Iran under the Mongol and
Timurid dynasties. Carpets of this kind now began to have highly
complex designs influenced by contemporary textiles, especially
silks.
From this period on, the knotted pile carpet became an
increasingly standard feature of Islamic art and high culture,
and soon it captured the attention of wealthy Europeans as well.
Already by the thirteenth century merchant travelers like Marco
Polo remarked on the beauty of the Oriental carpets they
encountered on their journeys, and soon such carpets began to be
imported into Venice and thence to the rest of Europe. While
actual early carpets of this kind are rarely preserved, European
painting by the great masters from Giotto and Ghirlandaio to
Holbeim, van Eyck, Lotto, and Vermeer constantly depict carpets
from Turkey and Iran. Such paintings document the importance
that the Oriental carpet had attained by this time as a
quintessential symbol of cosmopolitan taste and affluence. So
valued were these carpets that there were various attempts to
imitate or adapt them in Europe.
After the seventeenth century Europeans briefly lost interest
in the Oriental carpet. This probably reflected developments in
the Near and Middle East, where all the great ruling dynasties
collapsed or went into regression, bringing about a
corresponding roll-back in the quantity and quality of carpet
production. During this hiatus European carpet production was
stepped up, creating the Aubusson and Savonnerie types in a
Neo-Classical western style. Carpet production in Spain, which
had begun under Muslim rule in the Middle Ages, also moved in to
meet the European demand for rugs.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, rug weaving in
Iran went into a great period of revival under the highly
retrospective Qajar dynasty, re-awakening the European interest
for Oriental carpets and creating a new American market for them
as well. This eventually led to a revival or expansion of carpet
production in Turkey and also a revival of Indian carpet weaving
under British rule. At this time Chinese carpets, whose
production went back to ancient times, finally became known in
quantity to European and American markets.
From that time on the western world became used to an endless
variety of Oriental rugs and carpets whose production continues
into the present time. The most notable recent developments are
the revival of vegetable dyes and hand-spinning of wool, which
had largely died away in the course of the twentieth century.
Such new productions capture much of the quality and original
flavor of antique Oriental rugs. But only a genuine antique can
preserve the soul and spirit of Oriental rug weaving, an art
form that reaches back virtually unbroken to the earliest times.
Antique Oriental rugs are not only objects of great beauty and
rarity; they are a much-needed bridge to a bygone world of
consummate skill and expressiveness that is vastly different
from the mass-culture of modern western experience.
Written by David Castriota
About the author:
David is an expert in art and Oriental rugs.
Author: Allison Thompson
For many antique collectors the taking care of their collection
is very important to them. For some who have inherited a lovely
collection of heirlooms, yet do not have any idea of how to look
after them or even keeping up with the collection they already
have as well as they should. By caring for these items correctly
they will benefit from them in the future, as not only can they
be passed on to their loved ones or they can be sold at a higher
value in the future if so wished.
Below it provided some tips for which you should be able to care
for your antiques and collectibles. There are many sites where
you should be able to obtain more detailed information on how to
look after your priceless treasures.
Firstly, we will look at caring for glass, porcelain or pottery
antiques. Any items like these should be washed individually in
a wash basin to prevent any damage (such as chipping). You
should only ever wash them in warm water never hot or cold and
with a gentle cleaner using a soft bristled brush. One thing you
should NEVER do is put your antique glass, pottery or porcelain
in a dishwasher (the extreme heat and detergent used can be
extremely harmful). Also always allow each item to dry naturally
and do not use a cloth on them to dry them.
Next we need to consider how you should display and store your
collection. If you have a home where there are young children or
generally lots of visitors then make sure that your glass,
pottery and porcelain collections are kept in a safe place
(cabinet) well away from the main flow of traffic in the house.
Do not put the collection on shelves on walls, it only takes one
small vibration to occur whether some one accidentally knocks
against the shelf or some one knocks against the wall the shelf
is on could mean the loss of your collection.
Now we will look at how to look after antique rugs and textiles.
Any rugs or textiles that you have will need specialist care
when either moving, storing or cleaning them. It is quite easy
to cause damage (such as tearing) to occur when you move such
items as the material they are made from is very delicate and so
you make sure you move them slowly and carefully. If you must
roll up an antique rug then ensure that the pile of the rug is
facing outwards as this will prevent any damage or crushing to
the item. Any antique garments that you have should at all times
be hung on sturdy hangers and then covered in white cotton or
rolled up using an acid free paper and then closed at either end
and tied securely.
You can vacuum rugs and textiles, but only use a very low
setting and always take extra care when you are vacuuming any
textiles as you do not want to end up the suction being strong
and causing fibers to be pulled apart. If you do happen to spill
anything on the rug, then put white paper towels underneath the
rug and above where the spill has occurred and replace them
until no more liquid comes out. Should it be required, then
contact an expert who will be able to clean it correctly. Also
remember to keep an eye on the rug or textile and avoid it being
exposed directly to either sun or humidity. If you happened to
have collected antique or collectible furniture you will need to
dust it usually only a soft lint free cloth. Any wooden antique
furniture that you have should be waxed usually only a quality
bees wax and where at all possible avoid placing any furnishings
in bright light or in to rooms which experience extreme changes
in temperature or humidity as they will also cause damage. When
moving antique furniture carry it out with extreme care never
dragging, but always ensure that the furniture is lifted.
Many people find that having a valuable collection of either
antiques or collectibles is a privilege and by ensuring that
they take proper care of them will not only help to increase
their value but it also means that they can be passed down from
generation to generation.
About the author:
Allison Thompson a work from home mum now living in Spain who
has become interested in collecting antiques and has produced a
site called http://www.antiqueadventures.info providing
information on this subject.