Most Unusual Acquisition You've Made?

Dear folks -

One of the interesting aspects of Joe Fell's rug morning was the stories that some of these pieces elicited.

I especially enjoyed the stories of rugs literally rescued from the garbage. And, as you can, see several others had similar tales to tell.

This leads me to wonder whether it might not be enjoyable to share some of the unusual modes by which we have acquired some of the pieces we have owned.

I don't have a "garbage rug" story but did recently rescue and had conserved, a fine Tekke rug fragment that someone put up on eBay. It has notches in its four corners clearly indicating that it was at one time used as upholstery for the seat of a chair. The career of this piece has at least three stages. First it was part of a chuval bag in a Tekke yurt (I would estimate it at, at least, third quarter 19th century). Then it was a chair seat. And now it lays on a night stand next to my bed with some antique Staunton chess pieces on it and I get to look at it under good light (it has a nice blue-green) daily.

And I know that sheer personal malevolance has at least once been functional for my collection. Someone sold me a nice piece, and at a good price, specifically to make sure that it did not get into another specific person's hands.

But I think it likely that some of you can do better than this. What is the most unusual way in which you ever acquired a rug or textile?

Regards,

R. John Howe

Another great photo essay; thanks, John. I'll add one story to your request. I have a large 10 ft Chinese pillar carpet from about 1800 that once belonged to the late Luciano coen from rome. It was published in Architectural Digest in March, 1979. He and I argued about the price of this rug for two years. After about a year, he wrote to my wife, Freddie, inquiring how she could live with me. I thought that was pretty clever, but I also believe that he honestly meant it, and the question was not a ploy to push the rug sale, per se. After another year, I finally agreed to his price and bought the rug. However, that was not before another long snail mail discussion about why he should sell it at the original price since it was now two years later and inflation was going crazy (oh for the days of 14% bonds!!)
Regards,
Marvin

Dear folks -

I'm a little surprized that my request here hasn't drawn more response. I expected a literal "blaze" of experience to light up our monitors. Marvin has done well but surely there must be other interesting acquisition stories out there.

C'mon, people. It needn't be personally embarrassing, but there must be some fun tales to tell.

Regards,

R. John Howe