This is one of the first rugs Jean and I bought. We chose it because we thought it was "cheerful" and would make a "welcoming" rug for the foyer.

The no-good-scheming-bastard who sold it to us said it was from Yuntdag, Turkey. As I recall, he made no claims as to its age or the chemical/natural sources of its colors. He did, however, get into a long rhapsody about this being woven on the eastern side of the mountain which accounted for its more "artistic" composition. It's been about 20 years, but I still remember these particular stories. As I write this,
it occurs to me that this is how so much mis-information is disseminated to novices who - through endless retellings - perpetuate and elevate it to a status somewhere between myth and Revealed Truth.

-Jerry-

One of the rules being followed by these dealers is "there are no ugly rugs; only a rug that has not found someone to appreciate it properly."

An important corallary that you have detected is, "every rug has its story and if this one doesn't, I can make it up right now."

Leads to a lot of mischief.

Your rug is cheerful.

Regards,

R. John Howe

You may be a bit harsh.
Our cultural conditioning may persuade us that every middle eastern rug dealer is steeped in the tradition and history of these enigmatic weavings, but most likely many of them have no more idea where the silly things were made than the rest of us. Their job is to sell them to us, not necessarily educate us about them.. If we really knew all of the hideous details, we would shrink in fear and revulsion from the rugs AND the dealers. (They are not as bad as hot dogs, but there may be some less than savory features about some of them)
I think your rug is quite delightful, if not romantically, authentically, antiquely desirable. It certainly beats my entry hall Afghan of pitiful vintage. It looks eminently serviceable and should outlast your lifetime to become a legacy of your good taste and judgment.

Yours most sincerely,

Patrick Weiler