Richard Larkin

Hi Patrick,

Before getting to my post, I must express my frank disappointment at the many discrepancies in the salon. One hates to be petty, but some of these matters cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged. First and foremost is the cynical use of the term “ducks” in the title. A quick perusal of the essay discloses there is little “ducky” about it. Most egregious is the allegation of ducks in the second image. They are not ducks, a fact of which you must be aware. They are raptors of some sort with (as you suggested) a decidedly military bearing. I can only conclude that you contrived to insert the term, “duck,” a word that is intrinsically humorous (much in the manner of “banana” ), in order to alleviate the otherwise grim nature of your chosen subject matter (ugly rugs).

I acknowledge that there is an essence of duck in the Baluch of the first image, but those birds are the extremely rare two-headed duck, with the second head at the hind end, a fact you blithely ignored. One could base an entire salon on this species alone, but it would have to be on a different site.

There are several other troubling assertions or omissions in the essay. For example, the non-Kazak four medallion runner is badly mishandled. If not for the suspicious orange, I would be compelled once again to mount a major assault on the bunker in order to acquire that outstanding rug. It is an excellent example of the mysterious phenomenon of the badly designed, carelessly woven rug that is somehow a smashing success, and miles ahead of 85% of the perfunctory real Kazaks all around us.

Granted, the 5 x 7 Bakhtiari is hideous, but where is the claimed orange? On the other hand, the wagireh is neato, even with the orange, which is mercifully lost in a sea of cheerfulness. As for the so-called Baluch, anybody who calls that rug a Baluch is operating from malice, and deserves all the ugly rugs they get.

I must admit, the salon as a whole is saved by the "winged horse-woman” rug, which elevates ugliness to a sublime level. On the other hand, I have no idea what that perfectly good Kurd runner is doing in a salon like this.

Now to my own rug, which I offer to demonstrate that with a little discipline, one can resist the temptation to call one’s birds-in-rug, “ducks.”



It is evident that the first bird is the moa, judging from the scale and taking into account the herding dog tending to the flock.



This is the first inkling I’ve had of a pile weaving tradition in New Zealand.


The next three must be dodos of some kind, judging from the direction of the feet. The dodo, of course, is the bird that doesn’t want to know where it’s going, it wants to know where it’s been.







It would have been easy cavalierly to have labeled the birds in my rug, “ducks;” but what about scholarship?

I’d like also to make a contribution in the ugly rug category, but so far, I haven’t been able to find one. I'll keep looking.

Rich Larkin

Patrick Weiler

Rich,

That is a rug most fowl.

Patrick Weiler

Joel Greifinger

Hi Rich,

I know that you were pursuing an avian theme, but, speaking of "a decidedly military bearing," is there anything you can tell us about the bands of hand grenades between the layers of flora and rara avis?

Joel Greifinger

Dinie Gootjes

Hi Rich,

One of those birds in the middle is clearly dead, feet up. That is the dodo that now knows where it was going, but does not know where it has been.

Keep looking for those ugly rugs. They should be something, after this beauty.

Dinie

Rich Larkin

Hi all,

There's a faint hint of consensus that my rug belongs in the ugly column. Shocking.

I deny it, but I hereby incorporate by reference, Joel's thread. Je ne regrette rien!

In fact, I bought the thing not very long ago on eBay. The truth is, using Patrick's rating scale, I assessed it from the pictures a couple of ticks above what arrived in one or two categories. The photographs weren't particularly good: too much sun. There was a flash of "What were you thinking" as I rechecked the photos. Still, the price was low, and it is doing service on the floor. And there's enough entertaining goofiness to easily overcome the few minor weaving lapses that a close inspection uncovers. The puppy has already chewed it in two places, and it has absorbed the hits very well.

Joel, the following link (with others) discusses boteh origins at length, and esoterically, but there isn't the first mention of grenades. And yet, you may be onto something.

http://www.turkotek.com/misc_00072/boteh.htm

Rich Larkin

Dinie Gootjes

Hi Rich,

This brings the ubiquitous war rug to a new level of g(l)ory.

Dinie

Joel Greifinger

Rich,

Thanks for that link. I could never figure out if all those references were to bow ties or botox!

Joel

Patrick Weiler

Rich,

I admit I was a bit dismissive in my first comment on your inimitable rug. Herewith is a more comprehensive response to your questions:

Q "I can only conclude that you contrived to insert the term, “duck,” a word that is intrinsically humorous (much in the manner of “banana” ), in order to alleviate the otherwise grim nature of your chosen subject matter (ugly rugs)."

A On the contrary, I put Odd Ducks into the salon because it not only makes the Salon Title attractive and lucrative, but the term itself actually relates to the Ugly/Unusual:

"Odd Duck; Term used for an unusual, different or strange individual. Origin unknown
The new guy at work sure is an odd duck, he never takes a break."

This would apply to Ugly Rugs as well as to rugs in which avian creatures of uncertain origin appear. It is lucrative in that I intend to have a high-profile auction of the rugs in the salon, sure to accrue significant income. And you thought the Jon Thompson and Robert Pinner auctions were successful!!
(Disclaimer: No one would even consider buying these rotten, ratty rags. Even if I put them in my will, the recipients would refuse them.)

Q "There are several other troubling assertions or omissions in the essay...the non-Kazak four medallion runner is badly mishandled. If not for the suspicious orange, I would be compelled once again to mount a major assault on the bunker in order to acquire that outstanding rug. It is an excellent example of the mysterious phenomenon of the badly designed, carelessly woven rug that is somehow a smashing success, and miles ahead of 85% of the perfunctory real Kazaks all around us."

A I put that rug at the top of the list because of the seriously deficient description in the auction. Sour Grapes on my part. Plus, it allowed me to introduce Quirkiness to the rug world as a serious assessment of rug quality, or lack thereof.

Q "Granted, the 5 x 7 Bakhtiari is hideous, but where is the claimed orange?"

A Trust me, you don't really want to know.

Q "the wagireh is neato, even with the orange, which is mercifully lost in a sea of cheerfulness."

A In the sports world, it would be known as a "Ringer" for the real thing. I can only compare it to the scenario that you married your wife without knowing about the silicon, botox, hair dye, corset and advanced degree from "Hardvard".
Another Disclaimer, I have not met you or your wife.

Q "As for the so-called Baluch, anybody who calls that rug a Baluch is operating from malice, and deserves all the ugly rugs they get."

A I claim amnesia. AKA alcohol or ignorance-induced blackouts during which I bid on and purchased most of these rugs.

Q "I have no idea what that perfectly good Kurd runner is doing in a salon like this."

A I was getting desperate.

Patrick Weiler

Rich Larkin

Hi Patrick,

I get it! When you say “ducks,” it’s figurative. I take back the entire harsh post, including the snide innuendo about your character.

So, would this Baluch qualify as an odd duck?

I mean, it’s all squares, and it’s wider at the bottom to boot, just like the Kurd runner. Now that’s quirky.

Rich Larkin

Patrick Weiler

Rich,

Now that is exactly what I would call an Odd Duck of a rug. It looks more like Tibetan rugs with a similar design. And I have a piece which also includes offset squares which I will post soon.
Granted, your rug is also borderline ugly....although one would have to assume that the marked abrash was intentional....perhaps.

Patrick Weiler

Richard Larkin

Hi Patrick,

Ugly? You think that thing is ugly? Boy, you know how to hurt a guy. I thought they picked people with qualifications to do these salons.

Well, OK. You have to call 'em as you see 'em. How about if I photoshop out that repair zit in the lower right corner of the upper left quadrant? It does have nice, thick, soft fleecy wool. That counts for something.

The truth is, I wondered from the getgo (it wasn't an antique at the getgo) how ugly it was. The odd duckness of the checkerboard squares completely trumped that issue, and I had to get it. When I look at photos taken by anthropologists of Baluchi on the trek, wrapped in what looks like an excess of material, and looking as though they'd been looking into the sun with sand blowing in their faces for several years, I fantasize that they will be weaving rugs that look like this.

I was interested to see whether you would speculate about the intentions of the weaver regarding the savage abrash in the brown. Being that she was Baluchi, anything was possible, but it is a severe shift in there. In addition, close examination shows that there is also significant color shift in the red as you go through the rug. If you can allow for the dubious proposition that a strict grid of squares can become interesting, if not attractive, when buffered by this approach, we may have a native weaving genius before us. Or it may be just another odd duck of a rug.

Rich Larkin

Patrick Weiler

Qualifications?
We don't need no stinkin' qualifications!
As to the abrash in your piece, I often muse whether or not it was noticeable to the weaver, or if some of the dyes changed over the years. Batches of naturally dyed wool usually have color intensity differences and it may have been used by weavers to make their weavings more attractive, but some rugs have so much and such abrupt abrash that one may wonder if the weaver was color or vision impaired. Abrash is another of the Quirky features which can elevate a rug above the norm. Not yours, though.
(Ouch!)
Just kidding! The abrash definitely improves the impact of the otherwise bland, repetitive, boring and soporific appearance.
(Are you questioning my Qualifications again?)
Here is my chessboard weaving. It is the ragged remains of a once vibrant tascheh of the Bakhtiari.



In the close up you can see the variation in size and shape of the squares. It is an almost hypnotic optical technique which generates movement in the design.



This is definitely an Odd Duck, as opposed to an Ugly Rug and is exactly the opposite of rugs which Joel has proposed in another thread in this Salon:
"a sub-set that I am particularly curious about: rugs that you know any competent collector will find very ugly, but that you nonetheless really like."
This is one which a collector may find attractive, but which the average novice (is there such a thing?) will be repelled by.
You said:
"a strict grid of squares can become interesting, if not attractive, when buffered by this approach"
The approach you were discussing was abrash, whereas this piece has no abrash, but variations in the size and shape of the squares. And significant condition issues.

Patrick Weiler

Filiberto Boncompagni

First of all, Pat, I have to break my silence to express my admiration for your elegant, witty style. In writing, that is. As for your collector capacities, I can’t comment. Let the one without sin cast the first stone.

Here’s one of my “odd ducks” in the figurative meaning of the expression:



I’m not referring to the birds but to the whole of the design (coincidentally, it’s also a figurative rug in itself).
It’s a modern Afghan rug, perhaps one of those TCHITCHAKTU (it sounds like somebody spitting) visible on Parsons at page 111.
Whatever. I cannot claim merit nor blame for it: it was offered to us years ago. I’ll plead guilty of my sins in the “ugly sub-species” thread.

Thanks for the gay (brilliant and lighthearted) salon,

Yourdictionary.com:

gay (gā)

adjective

1. joyous and lively; merry; happy; lighthearted
2. bright; brilliant: gay colors
3. given to social life and pleasures: a gay life

Filiberto

Patrick Weiler

Filiberto,

A cursory glance at that "thing" you posted clearly shows, at the top of the field and just below the horses, a distinct representation of the actual designer of the rug while he was being arrested for disturbing the peace...
Luckily, it also has a few ducks prancing about on top of the horses.

Gayly yours,

Patrick Weiler

Patrick Weiler

I have wondered about the origin of the exclamation "DUCK!" when we are about to be whacked by something.
Perhaps long ago, waterfowl were known to attack people.
And to segue directly to ducks, here is one that will hit you right between the eyes:

It is a Powerful Purple Peruvian Piece.

No, it is not the pinnacle of my collection. What do you think I am, a bufflehead or something?
It belongs to a well-meaning acquaintance. Well-meaning is a euphemism for non-rug-collector...with very poor taste...in acquaintances for sure!

Patrick Weiler

Chuck Wagner

Filiberto !

I like your odd duck quite a bit. Interesting rendering; new, yet old style.

Here's my contribution to the odd duck collection; old timers may remember recoiling in horror to this one several years ago. Still, how can one pass up on such a piece ? Bunnies ? Sheep ? Roosters ? Silk & wool indeterminate carnivores ? Probably the most poorly rendered hunters of the past 200 years !! A once in a lifetime opportunity, methought...







Regards,
Chuck Wagner

Dinie Gootjes

Chuck,

Indeterminate carnivores? That second picture clearly shows a dinosaur ready to crush a rabbit and tail-whop a rooster. Upsets all evolutionary tables.



Dinie

Rich Larkin

Hi Dinie,

Postscript on your post in frame #6. Believe it or not, I hadn't zeroed in on the fact that one of the birds in my rug was upside down until I reread your comment a minute ago. This, even though you hit me over the head with it. It shows how dense some ruggies can be. On the plus side, I think it increases the value of my rug about tenfold, sort of like one of those famous airmail stamps with the upside down airplane. So, thanks.

Rich Larkin