Michael Christie

A sample of Nepali-Tibetan weaving crafted by Silk Road Rug Industries utilizing the time honoured 'Wangden' technique indigenous to the like-named valley in Tibet, China. Historically prized by for its uniqueness the technique has yet to attract widespread attraction amongst modern carpet makers. | Photograph by The Ruggist.

What’s New? | Wangden
A revival of the time honoured Tibetan weaving technique, Wangden.

23 January 2019 Michael Christie Dispatches

In an age of limitless custom handmade rug and carpet options, why does the instinctive question, ‘What is new?’ persist in our lexicon? Moreover, why are we so inarticulate? We ask for new, when what we really want is something beautiful and eye catching and well made; the ‘newness’ of wares in the handmade rug industry being a somewhat laughable concept in itself. So while this carpet is newly made, the technique is actually quite time honoured dating to long before the annexation of Tibet by China and the subsequent growth of carpet production in Nepal. It is a Wangden carpet and it is distinctive because of its warp-faced back, supple hand and handle, and in the case of this piece, luxuriously plush pile.

Domotex Hannover 2019 Complimentary / Free Admission | The Ruggist

With Compliments! | Domotex
Domotex, in collaboration with The Ruggist, is pleased to offer qualified attendees Complimentary Admission to Domotex 2019 in Hannover, Germany.

15 October 2018 Michael Christie Noteworthy

For most people in the Northern Hemisphere the arrival of January signals Winter’s grasp has firmly taken hold, yet for itinerant rug and carpet buyers eager to spot the latest trends, find an antique gem in the rough, or explore the innovations which will drive the future of rugs and flooring, January can mean only one thing: Domotex. Billed by the organizers as ‘The World of Flooring’ the original fair in Hannover, Germany as well as the complementary regional shows including Domotex Turkey in Gaziantep, Turkey, Domotex Asia/ChinaFloor in Shanghai, China, and the soon to be inaugurated Domotex USA in Atlanta, United States, certainly live up to, if not exceed, this moniker. The January 2019 fair in Hannover will host over 1,600 exhibitors who will – assuming past trends hold – attract approximately 45,000 buyers representing in total over 100 countries from around the world. In short, it’s big, it’s important, and if you are serious about rugs and carpets, it’s a must attend. The Ruggist will be there for the duration of Domotex 2019 which runs Friday, 11 January through Monday, 14 January, 2019.

Words of Wisdom from Celaleddin Vardarsuyu of Bereket. The Ruggist.

Words of Wisdom | Vardarsuyu
A reprint of an open letter from Celaleddin Vardarsuyu regarding Turkey, opportunity, and partnership.

24 September 2018 Michael Christie Opinion

Celaleddin Vardarsuyu is an innovator, a true master of the art of contemporary carpetry. Whether you know of him by name, reputation, or have no knowledge of the man himself, for those who follow the trends of handmade rugs and carpets it is without doubt you know of his work and the subsequent derivative work his has inspired. In fact so pervasive is his influence – realized or otherwise – that even the casual observer of the broad decorative area rug market has likely seen at least some variant of his now iconic, oft imitated, patchwork style carpet. Vardarsuyu is also a passionate strongly opinionated thinker, a trait for which this author has nothing but the utmost of praise and respect.

In Consideration of Copyright - The Ruggist

In Consideration of Copyright
An essay on the importance of perspective in examining originators, copyists, and derivatists.

2 July 2018 Michael Christie Commentary

In the 1999 film ‘Dogma’ Salma Hayek plays ‘Serendipity’. Not simply a woman whose name happens to be Serendipity, but rather she plays the physical embodiment of serendipity itself, which is to say she is the ‘chance’ which brings about the occurrence and development of events in a happy or beneficial way. Except of course, there is no chance. While those without divinity perceive their interactions as random, or due to fate, or karma, or what have you, from the perspective of Serendipity, it is her will which causes events to happen as they do; for her the future is not fully unknown nor fully manifest rather its exists as any one of an endless number of permutations based upon her direct actions. In many ways the creation and success of a supposedly new rug or carpet design is a result of serendipity with the artist or designer creating something perceived as new as a result of the careful and equally serendipitous or Serendipitous work of those who have come before.

Born in the Purple - Viron Erol Vert - Art Carpets - The Ruggist

Born in the Purple | Viron Vert
A prima facie and bona fide example of carpets as art which explores society, family, and expression.

18 June 2018 Michael Christie Ephemera, Noteworthy

Like many topics related to the esoteric world of handmade rugs and carpets – and indeed of civilization broadly – different perspectives, different attitudes, different life experiences, different perceptions of the one true reality all influence how one reacts. Art, specifically the notion of carpets and rugs as art is by no means an exception, and it is this idea which routinely finds its way into the marketing and sales of rugs and carpets. ‘Art for the floor.’ and countless of other permutations of this tagline exist today just as they indubitably have existed since mankind first discovered the trade of rugs could be profitable. But ‘art’ is no clearly defined term. Contemporary usage leads one to understand many skills, artforms, and crafts as art. Cooking for example, or painting, or sculpture, to name but a few. Art, perhaps in an elitist attempt to winnow away the chaff, is also categorized into distinct sub-groups. Fine art, decorative art, folk art, classical art, again to name but a few.