The Ruggist
Archive
Begun as a lark in the summer of 2008 the website of 'The Ruggist' has had many iterations. First as highly irreverent blog, then as a professional website for insightful commentary about rugs and carpets; penultimately it languished as a reflection of times past. If you’ve come looking for past articles, you're now in the correct place, the archive section; however please note the articles categorized as 'archive' are no longer updated, nor maintained in any way, and may contain out of date information.

Archive

Begun as a lark in the summer of 2008 the website of ‘The Ruggist’ has had many iterations. First as highly irreverent blog, then as a professional website for insightful commentary about rugs and carpets; penultimately it languished as a reflection of times past. If you’ve come looking for past articles, you’re now in the correct place, the archive section; however please note the articles categorized as ‘archive’ are no longer updated, nor maintained in any way, and may contain out of date information.

You are encouraged to view the archives as they are intended, as contemporaneous commentary and critique reflective of the time the article was originally published.

Archive

They’re Great! | Tiger Rugs

Within the world of rugs and carpets if one is to mention ‘Tiger Rug’ the foremost thought aught to be that of Tibetan Tiger Rugs. Not because of any exclusive domain over the motif – which there most certainly is not, but rather because in the grand and storied history of tigers as inspiration for carpets Tibet has produced some of the most amazing, lively, and original versions of the design. Whether the motif originated in Tibet, in a geographically proximal region, or in Timbuktu as a metaphor for far-off unknown places, is a scholarly debate for another time. Regardless, know that amongst the collectable and pre-commercialized rug market, Tibetan Tiger Rugs are, if you’ll pardon the pun, the cat’s meow.

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Moonscape Malachite | Tufenkian

Moonscape Malachite reminds me not only of the verdant seaweed texture but also of the calm and uniqueness each place can bring in an otherwise chaotic and harsh world. Perhaps I am too intellectual in my thoughts on carpets, but would it not be so wonderful to fill your life and your home with beauty that speaks to you, not that which is simply trendy, en vogue, or popular with the neighbours? This carpet, like the ones already in my home, fulfills that wish for me; now to figure out if there is room for one somewhere… .

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Don’t be Coy | ‘Tuft’ by Rug Star

‘RUG STAR TUFT was invented to offer the market a simple message: RUG STAR [hand knotted] in 6 months or RUG STAR TUFT in 6 weeks.’ begins Rug Star’s Jürgen Dahlmanns as we are discussing his new carpet project via email. ‘Of course for both variations we only want to provide the best possible quality and the smartest executions on the market.’ Upon reading this statement I am immediately reminded of the oft referenced ‘Project Management Triangle’ and how its truisms are somewhat antithetical, though not fully unknown to the world of rugs. Is superior quality the goal?

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Muhammad Shah’s Royal Persian Tent

The spectacular royal tent is rare extant example of silk chain-stitch embroidery on fulled-wool piecework made in Rasht sometime during the reign of Mohammad Shah (1834-1848) during the Qajar dynasty. While only seven (7) of the original fourteen (14) panels remain – the disposition of the balance being ‘unknown at this time’ according to recently retired Curator of Textiles and Islamic Art at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Louise W. Mackie – the tent is no less impressive.

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Über Lounging | ‘CarpetHammock’

As our North American agrarian roots gave way to a more modern ‘developed’ society so too did the need for our children to work on the farm give way. In its stead, our summer has evolved into a time to thoroughly enjoy the weather, lolling about in warm breezes, imagining a life far less hurried. The summer of 2015 brought us both the accessible middle market Fatboy Picnic Lounge and the capital ‘C’ couture Daydreamer Lounge from Jan Kath. What does 2016 offer to sooth our weary souls? Meine Damen und Herren, Ich vorstelle die ‘CarpetHammock’ von REUBER HENNING!

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Seminary Economics | Creative Matters

Honouring the past while remaining cognizant of the evolutionary needs of society is amongst one of the most difficult lessons one can learn, and it is what elevates the ordinary to the extra ordinary. By embracing and adapting what is and what has been, into what can and will be, one has the ability to harness creativity that spans well beyond any one person or lifetime. Adaptive re-use of architecture – either in whole or through its constituent components – is amongst one of the most beautiful ways this is accomplished, even more so with a fantastic bespoke rug that incorporates elements of the existing, to create a freshly modern – yet familiar aesthetic.

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‘Quadro Celeste’ | cc-tapis

Relatively fresh on the heels of our presentation of ‘Rugthko’ comes another collection of Art wallhangings from the stylish and fashionable (rugs, carpets or otherwise) firm of cc-tapis. Designed by Studiopepe for cc-tapis for the 2016 Salone del Mobile, each of the wallhangings in this collection is evocative of an archetypical human form. By way of illustration…

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‘Twilight Zone’ | Wool and Silk

‘Twilight Zone’ shown in colour ‘Denim’ (other multichromatic colourations are available) is a stunning Tibetan weave carpet that, like much of Wool and Silk’s work is irresistible to the eyes. ‘The blues are amazing and I really love the geometry of the design.’ I said while browsing the images. ‘Yes..’ Erbil replies ‘but it is asymmetrical with great depth [as well].’ And then, with the almost incomprehensible warbling of an overhead announcement our beautiful respite was over and our respective journeys continued…

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Do We Need More Design? | Op-Ed

Lately I have been asking myself this question over and over again. Perhaps because I live in a design-obsessed city, as revealed by everything from the foam patterns on one’s morning cappuccino to the style of pyjamas one wears at night. Perhaps because we just experienced ‘Milan Design Week’, a stellar event which exhibits – on a grand, theatrical scale – the myriad of possible configurations of this word ‘design’. Perhaps because furniture design has become more responsive to commercial tastes, therefore influencing designers to come up with more of the same, without much venturing into unchartered territories.

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Carpets as Therapy | Firesun Carpets

Upon first reading of ‘The Firesun Story’ as Dena Lawrence the Artist behind their creation calls it, one can be forgiven for jumping to ill formed conclusions regarding carpet making as some form of therapy. Foremost amongst them may be the notion of entitlement one must possess to think mental woes can be healed by having artwork reproduced by people whose own problems transcend an entire range of possibilities well beyond Western realities. That is of course the simpleminded logic of today’s everything is offensive society, whereas the real meaning is far deeper and far more meaningful, if one would simply bother to look.

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Rug Preview 2016 | ICFF

The 2016 installment of the venerable contemporary furnishings show ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) takes place the 14-17 May 2016 at New York City’s Javits Center. Billed by the organizers as a must see ‘high end luxury’ exhibition, this year’s show is back with a wide ranging selection of rug and carpet styles from some of North America’s (and beyond) premier brands. The Ruggist will be on hand to gauge for not only himself, but for you, which carpets stand-out and which truly live up to the luxury moniker. Here’s a peek at a just few we intend to see.

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‘RUGTHKO’ | cc-tapis

The appreciation of capital ‘A’ Art is rightly very subjective, certainly not without controversy, and most definitely variable with time. What is hot, hot, hot now may be cold, cold, cold as soon as tomorrow. For me, artistic expression – in its various forms – succeeds as Art when disagreement, indifference, and lively spirited conversion dominate the discussion of the objet du jour. Take for example the fantastic irreverent and intellectual conversations presented in Episode Seven (7) of Season Two (2) of Mad Men as they discuss the recent fictional acquisition of the work of Mark Rothko.

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A Couturier of Carpets | Jan Kath

I’ve long been a proponent of drawing comparisons between the world of fashion and the world of rugs and carpets; the appeal is simply too irresistible. Iconic fashion houses producing the absolute finest articles of couture clothing with degrees of customization that, to be frank, can at times be envious, contrasted against the monotony of prêt-à-porter and the one-size-fits-some downmarket world of fast fashion; if only the French had a more vulgar sounding word to convey the harshness that comes with producing inexpensive commodity quality clothing. Or do they? I digress.

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Collectible or Knot: The Value of Handmade Carpets

It doesn’t take much time shopping for a handmade rug or carpet until one will encounter the phrase ‘It’s an investment.’ Usually uttered by a well-meaning salesperson in response to an inquiry regarding the relative expense of the carpet then under consideration, its nuanced meaning is quite oft left intentionally vague and unqualified.

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Different Stripes | Reuber Henning

‘How many striped rugs have we seen before?’ begins REUBERHENNING’s Birgit Krah as if she was the one asking the questions. ‘Some are nice, a lot are boring, but stripes have always been fascinating to me. It’s a timeless pattern found in fashion, furniture, and art, even in nature. Never out, always in, the design remains classic and modern, conservative yet freaky all dependant upon how you wear it or [as is the case with carpets] which apartment we put it in.’