Michael Christie

A stack of folded Iranian flatweaves as seen at Edelgrund during Domotex 2019 | Photograph by The Ruggist.

Look Deeper | Edelgrund
A teasing glimpse of design reminds to look beyond the surface.

18 February 2019 Michael Christie Dispatches

Just the most iconic representation of a rug or carpet merchant I can imagine: a simple pile of rugs, this one from Edelgrund. In actuality though it is hardly simple and it represents uncounted manhours of labour; a pile, or stack, of rugs hides so much, only teasing at the beauty within. Perhaps instead of passing quick judgement or critiquing without contemplative thought consider looking deeper in order to reveal more of the details. Rugs and carpets aren’t mere embellishments for the floor, they also serve as allegory for many of our worldly problems. Enjoy the week my friends! What are you doing?

A Presto! - Over Coffee with Daniele Lora and Fabrizio Cantoni of cc-tapis - Milan - The Ruggist

A Presto! | cc-tapis
In the heat of a Milanese summer, Fabrizio Cantoni and Daniele Lora welcome The Ruggist into the offices of cc-tapis.

11 February 2019 Michael Christie Over Coffee

It was in the late summer of 2015 C.E. at the 12th annual – and apparent penultimate – New York International Carpet Show that I first met Fabrizio Cantoni of cc-tapis and became more acquainted with the Italian brand. At the time I had only recently begun to take writing and rug commentary far more seriously and in the process the two (2) of us had, as one does in this age, begun following one another on Instagram. After passing by the cc-tapis stand several times I returned and while making reference to Cantoni’s Instagram handle I inquired assertively, ‘Which one of you is Happy Fabrizio?’ as I approached. That is how I came to meet Fabrizio Cantoni, who along with his wife Nelcya Chamszadeh and their business partner Daniele Lora comprise the energetic triumvirate at the core of cc-tapis.

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.