Posted by Patrick Weiler on May 15, 1999 at 19:57:31:
Jerry:
You have certainly touched on the most irritating anclilary symptom of rugatosis; the urge to accumulate reference materials.
I, too, think that Eiland-squared is the most informative general reference. Rugs to riches is the least.
My favorite is the Kaffel prayer rug book
As far as provocative, The Goddess From Anatolia and The Christian Oriental Rug are a tie.
My first rig book was Bennetts Rugs and Carpets of the world
As far as pictures, the Jon Thompson Oriental Carpets from the tents/villages etc set a new standard for great rug pictures and ethnographic supplemental pictures. I like to say, though, that the new Eiland edition has been "Opie-ated", in other words, large color pictures relevant to the text.
Black backgrounds can bring out the colors in some rugs, but seems to be a gimmick
Future topics: I really like monographs on specific types, like the Yastik book.
Rug books can be made better by the inclusion of large-scale pictures of the back of rugs and close-ups. I mean FULL PAGE close-ups, with explanatory information. I prefer footnotes to be at the end of chapters rather than at the end of the book.
I try to treat my books well, since many of them were bought "used". I still regret the damage done to my copy of Caucasian Carpets by E. Gans-Ruedin by my dog. (no, it does not only happen to homework)
Some books are too expensive. Maybe half of the rugs/bags I own were purchased for less than the new Eiland book. It is a challenge to find good rugs that are inexpensive.