Posted by Patrick Weiler on June 22, 1999 at 18:57:34:
In Reply to: Re: Are better rugs peferentially preserved?/Harry's post posted by Steve Price on June 22, 1999 at 16:42:16:
: Dear Harry,
: I'm sorry if I gave you the impression that the technical factors I mentioned are the whole of it. They aren't, of course, but I think they are significant contributors to the likelihood that a rug will be preserved. That is, I believe that there will be some correlation (not a perfect one!) between those things and the value placed on a rug. I am more likely to bend over to pick up a quarter from the sidewalk than to pick up a nickle, but will usually do that for a nickle. I rarely do so for a penny. Same principle. People are likely to exert more effort for some thing that's worth more.
: Steve Price
Steve:
I don't know why we are all picking on you, however, I, too, will have a go at it.
It may well be true that many "made for the Kahn" pieces do survive simply because they were not used. But, I feel that most people keep or save SOMETHING of value to them. And there are a heck of a lot more ordinary people than Kahns, especially in the nomadic or village weaving areas. And for most of these people, their weaving was the ONLY thing of value/art they posessed. In addition to this human trait of stashing stuff away, many people stash away a little something that their children have made. Do you have anything your children may have made in junior high school? Will this be a collectible antique work of folk art someday? So, for this reason, many "folksy, whimsical" weavings have survived to this day.
Many entered the market because of hardship, but a lot enter the market the same way things do here, at the early summer garage sale. That musty old junk from gramma is just useless to us anymore.
As a matter of fact, I think I will toss all the old rugs and start collecting lace doilies and Budweiser beer can knitted hats!