The Salon du Tapis d'Orient is a moderated discussion group in the manner of the 19th century salon devoted to oriental rugs and textiles and all aspects of their appreciation. Please include your full name and e-mail address in your posting.
Day 1: Dealer's Reception
Dear folks,
OK, people have worked hard and in some cases with real desperation and there are a few backs acting up but here we are at the dealers' reception for ACOR 8.
There's good eastern food to be had and a cash bar but the real thing going on is the ogling of a great deal of wonderful material. I can only give you a sample but here goes.
This is the better of two nice 'mother and child" boteh pieces I saw.
The piece below is a nice yastik with what looks like a cochineal red (eastern?).
Wendel Swan took me back to it to point out that it still has part
of its back attached,
something we talked about recently here.
Another smaller yastik was nearby.
I especially like its white ground border treatment.
The next piece had an attribution of Balouch with a question mark.
Frances Plunkett and I mused that if it is, in fact, Balouch, it is one of the most unusual ones we have seen.
The piece below is on of a pair of strips that my wife and I examined over John Wertime's shoulder without discovering its attribution.
The piece that follows is perhaps one of the most unusual at this opening reception.
The dealer said that it is entirely made of scraps of French military uniforms.
Here, below is a wonderfully delicate Senneh of moderate size.
Now the piece below seems unquestionably Balouch.
The only question I had was who might pay the very hefty price I read on its tag.
I'm showing the colorful Caucasian piece below turned on its side so that I can get it all on the screen for you.
A nice sweater in the picture below, worn by Jim Henderson, who with his wife is one of the founders of ACOR.
The sweater is not for sale.
The photo below is of Charles Lave, examining a rug in a dealer's
booth. Charles, and his wife Bethany Mendenhall, seem to have volunteered
permanently to handle the
dealers' fairs at all of the ACOR and ICOC conferences held in the U.S. The
work they do is enormous.
Charles admits to liking quirky rugs.
The last picture in this post is the one below of my wife Jo Ann. Notice she is still smiling despite what must be too many rugs and ruggies all around here.
There are a lot more images to show but I have to go have breakfast. The sessions of the first full day start in only a little while.
Regards,
R. John Howe