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Archive for May, 2006

May 30 2006

The Many Uses of Hand-Made Decorative Oriental Rugs

Published by nazmiyal under Articles

Today we think of decorative Oriental hand-woven wool rugs primarily as a floor covering, and occasionally as a wall decoration. But, thousands of years ago, when the art of rug weaving was being perfected, dozens of practical uses were attributed to rugs and carpets.

The first famous use was as prayer rugs, which most of us are familiar with. A small three by five foot rug could be transported where ever the owner traveled. And consider many of the peoples inhabiting the ancient Middle-East were nomadic. Today we think of decorative Oriental hand-woven wool rugs primarily as a floor covering, and occasionally as a wall decoration. But, thousands of years ago, when the art of rug weaving was being perfected, dozens of practical uses were attributed to rugs and carpets.

Traveling constantly brought about a few other uses like saddle rugs, emergency protection from the elements, communication and even as currency.

Saddle rugs, for horses and camels today, are primarily used for padding the back of the animal so a saddle can be placed on top. For long nomadic trips through the desert, a rug can also be placed on top of the saddle and around the torso of the rider. Thick, durable wool rugs provide good protection from sandstorms and extreme temperatures.

How were these rugs and carpets used as vehicles for communication? It is believed that families separated by large geographic distances sent messages to each other via rugs and carpets. In addition, important events, people and histories have been recorded with pictorial detail. These skilled rug and carpet weavers have drawn descriptive stories into rugs like paintings. There is no doubt that this is an art form.

Finally, these textiles were used for barter and currency. Many of the masses in that time period considered their rugs the most valuable material items they possessed. Hand-woven wool carpets and rugs represent a standard of quality and craftsmanship whereby a definitive value can be determined and compared to others.

Therefore, we can see that our perception of what these ornate textiles can be used for is narrow. The people who first started making and using them thousands of years ago were much more imaginative in terms of finding practical applications for them.

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May 19 2006

Upkeep of Antique Oriental Rugs & Carpets

Published by nazmiyal under Articles

Good antique rugs or even first-rate hand made rugs have a proven track record when it comes to investment. Like any other investment that you may own, such as your house or antique paintings and furniture, you must take care of them in order to help maintain their value. With rugs it is easier than you may think. Naturally one needs to keep the piece clean, so we suggest vacuuming your rugs regularly based on how much traffic they get. 

For example, a library rug that you walk on just a few times a day would not need vacuuming more than once or twice a month, but your entry hall rug which gets the most traffic and dirt would probably need to be vacuumed once a week. Every two to three years we suggest you have your rugs picked up and professionally cleaned. Also, to assure uniform wear we suggest rotating your rug after each cleaning.  

These simple but very effective measures will aid in adding many years to the life of your rug. When it comes to fraying, unraveling, or holes we suggest getting immediate assistance. As in life, the more you put it off the worse off you may be in the long run. A small hole or wear area will grow and grow, and before you know it a minor and inexpensive matter could evolve into an avoidable headache which can cost you hundreds or even thousands more than if you had attended to it immediately.

Therefore, we suggest that if you have any concerns or questions about your rugs please do not hesitate to call us. We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

 

 
 

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May 17 2006

Short Hills, NJ gets an Antique Rug Gallery

Published by nazmiyal under Articles

Antique Oriental rug connoisseur Jason Nazmiyal, who founded the Nazmiyal Collection of Antique Rugs, has just christened a new gallery in Short Hills, NJ. The Nazmiyal Collection, which is the parent company of this news site, prides itself on offering the finest carpets in the world.

Jason scours the globe for the most lavish pieces, which are primarily displayed in his flagship store on Madison Avenue, NY. The new Short Hills location, his third, will feature these fine antiques as well as modern rugs and carpets which are distributed from his second location in Red Bank, NJ.

The Nazmiyal collection of rugs and carpets showcases only the most unique, one-of-a-kind pieces from the Orient and Persia. His most recent travels have been to Asia, India, China, France, England and other European countries. His skilled eye for beautiful carpets and rugs has been honed over the course of the past 25 years. And he was no stranger to these textiles before he started in the trade, he is descended from a long line of connoisseurs. Therefore, its no wonder he has assembled the most eclectic and elite rugs in the world.

Jason’s clientele ranges from interior designers and architects to homeowners looking to purchase fine carpets. In addition, a whole new group of antique rug aficionados have emerged in the past few years, and he has received many accolades about his taste for rugs, carpets and textiles.

“My passion for fine art has let me to much success in this business. I am fortunate enough to be able to offer my clients some of the most elegant antique rugs in the world.”

The new antique rug gallery in Short Hills is a spacious, 4000 sq. ft., with a very high ceiling. There are no support beams or pillars to obstruct the flow, so it is a very relaxing atmosphere, similar to an art museum. Always a forward thinker, Jason has set up a projection system similar to that of a movie theatre, whereby rugs can be viewed in high-resolution on a 5 x 7 foot screen. Traditionally, finding a rug required the dealer to physically open each by hand, which is strenuous and time consuming.

This location will also feature antique accessories as well as other luxury pieces for home decoration. “Fine rugs are a lifetime purchase,” said Jason Nazmiyal. “If the customer is happy, they have a lifetime of enjoyment.”

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May 16 2006

Buying Old Rugs

Published by nazmiyal under Articles

Buying a rug is a great deal like buying art. It was designed and created by an artist/craftsman. You may be looking for a particular size, but ultimately, for one reason or another, a rug will demand your attention. It may be the style, or the colors; something will distinguish it from others of the same size. You will feel, you were meant to own it.

We have a few tips to make the process easy, and enjoyable. If at all possible, start the design of a room by first finding the rug. There are many fabric swatches that will complement a fabulous rug. While not impossible, it is more restricting to find rugs that will work with fabrics.

To begin the adventure of buying a rug two things must be established before we have fun. We need to know size, and you need to establish a budget. Measure your room; determine the minimum and maximum size you can use. Determine the use of the room. Are your purposes and/or aesthetic sense served better by one large rug, or several smaller rugs?

Now you have established the size; lets move on to the budget. You want something that you truly love; you want to get the best piece you can afford. Antiques, undoubtedly, are the most beautiful. Therefore they tend to be more expensive than new. For a 9×12 antique rug, you need to figure on spending at least $15000. If this is beyond your budget, do not despair, some of the new productions are fantastic. Naturally the 9×12 that costs $3000 will probably not be as interesting, or as pleasing as the one for $7500.

Once you have determined the size and budget, the adventure of finding the right rug for you can begin. If you have already picked a color scheme, or are buying a rug for an already furnished room, make sure you bring swatches with you.

Once you have selected a rug, or rugs, most reputable dealers are happy to have you view the rug in your home, before finalizing the sale. Usually the moment you see the rug in your space, you will know if it is the right one for you.

The end product, the purchase, should be as enjoyable, educational and fulfilling as the search itself.

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May 15 2006

An Ordinary Antique Rug Becomes an Interior Design Statement

Published by nazmiyal under Articles

The imperfect antique rug becomes the perfect design statement! Antique rugs are valued for different reasons. There is the antique rug that is in pristine condition, and truly representative of its style, whether it be a Kazak, Shirvan, Heriz, Sultanabad etc. Then there is the rug that does not meet certain standards, but with a tea wash you can achieve what is desirable in today’s style.

Muted colors are desirable, faded blues and beiges to tan. The deeper colors are eliminated with the wash giving you a rug that is very desirable in the world of interior design. You take an average antique rug, and make it very desirable. It would never be a museum piece, but designers have made it today’s look.


by Joan Guryan

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May 12 2006

The Wide Array of Styles for Oriental Rugs & Carpets

Published by nazmiyal under Antique Turkish Rugs, Articles

How diverse is the world of Oriental rugs? Well there are literally hundreds of different styles, each with their own characteristic.  The world of Oriental rugs is much larger than most assume. If you consider that people have been weaving rugs as far back as the ancient Egyptians, then you can start to comprehend how diverse the styles have evolved over the last three thousand or so years. Also, note that evidence of ancient rug weaving has been found on every major continent.

Although this array of styles has many similarities, let’s take a look at a few things that make them unique from each other. If we simply examine the wide variety of styles that have been created from two of the major rug producing regions, Persian and India, then I am sure you will get a feel of the diversity.

Antique Tabriz Persian RugThe commonly accepted center of the rug universe is Persia, or modern-day Iran. Their styles represent the best features of almost every possible characteristic. From excellent construction to intricately beautiful designs. Dozens of styles have been born in this region. A few of the most notable are: Tabriz, Kerman, Sultanabad, Kashan, Kurdish, Lori, Bidjar, Baluch, Esfahan, Gabbeh, Hamedan, Bakshaish, Khorassan, Shahsavan, Afshar, Mahal, Senneh, Quashki, Farahan and Malayer to name a few.

Antique hand-made rugs from India are most notably known for their vibrant colors. The Indians produced some of the best natural color dyes from the wide selection of flora that was available to them. Many rug styles from India can also be recognized by the frequent use of animals and outdoor scenes. Some of the styles that emerged from here are called: Agra, Ottoman Embroydery, Millefleurs, Mugal, Indian Shall and Amritsar.

Antique Kerman Persian RugAs we can see, the rug styles that Persia has produced alone can fill a book. From symmetrical designs to abstract, vivid to subdued, geometric to floral, pictoral to decorative these rugs are truly an art form produced by skilled artisans. Some of the many styles I have seen are: Alcaraz, Alpheora, Amritsar, Art Nouveau, Aubusson, Axminster, Azerbaijan, Bakhtiari, Bakshaish, Baluch, Bergama, Bessarabian, Bezalel, Bibkabad, Bidjar, Cairene, Central Asian Nomadic, Chenile, Chinese, Dagestan, Deco, Donegal, Early Turkish, English, Esfahan, Farahan, Gabbeh, Ganjeh, Giordes, Greek Embroidery, Hamedan, Hereke, Heriz, Hooked, Indian, Indian Shall, Indian Textile, Ingrain, Irish, Karabagh, Kashan, Kazak, Kerman, Khorassan, Khotan, Kilim, Kirshkir, Konya, Kuba, Kurdish, Lori, Mahal, Malayer, Milas, Millefleurs, Mongolian, Mood, Moroccan, Mugal, Navajo, Needlepoint, New Egyptian, Ningsia, North West, Ottoman Embroidery, Oushak, Peking, Polonaise, Quashki, Sarouk, Savonnerie, Senneh, Serapi, Shahestan, Shahsavan, Shirvan, Sivas, Spanish, Sultanabad, Sultanabad New, Tabriz, Tabriz New, Tapestry, Tehran, Tibetan, Turkish, Ukranian, Uzbek, Wilton, Yarkand, Yastic, Yazd, Yuruk and Zakatala.

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May 11 2006

Hand Made Oriental Rugs Vs. Modern Machine Made Rugs

Published by nazmiyal under Articles

What are the differences between hand made oriental rugs as opposed to modern machine made rugs. Well, the first major difference is value. And when I say value, I mean how valuable a rug is. Now there are several factors to keep in mind when determining the value of a rug, the depths of which we will not dive into here. Although, one of the main factors is naturally how it is made.

Of course, modern machine made rugs are almost never as valuable as an antique anything. Although, new rugs can appreciate greatly if they are owned, signed or designed by someone famous. Some of the modern artists like Andy Warhol, have had rug lines produced using some of their more famous works.

The main difference between these two types of rugs is the actual manner of construction. Machine made rugs consiste of plastic derrived fibers being glued onto a strong plastic base. Which makes them initially very durable, but over time the adhesive degrades and the fibers detach easily from the base.

Now I am not by any means saying that you should not buy new rugs because of this. I personally own several machine made rugs. For rooms with modern designs or active areas with high traffic or children, machine made rugs with contemporary designs are excellent.

On the other hand, there is a common misconception that hand made Oriental rugs are delicate and not durable. Their ornate designs and soft feel often decieve many. This art form is the cumulation of several thousand years of trial and error. It is a skill which has been perfected.

The hand weaver creates several dozen knots per square inch of strong wool fibers. Intricate weaves which are too complicated for me to elaborate on in this article. A true marriage of form and function by creating symmetrical designs pleasing to the eye while maintaining durability and usefullness.

So, we can see that while both types of rugs have major differences, they have made their seperate places within our individual homes and culture in general.

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