No comments about Antique Kilims of Anatolia.

No comments about Beatlefan: The Authoritative Publication of Record for Fans of the Beatles, 1978/79-1980 (Rock and Roll Reference Series).

5 comments about Rugs to Riches: Guide to Buying Oriental Rugs.

1. This book is a ruggy good read, more intoxicating than Class A rugs. I recommend reading it rugularly whilst listening to "Rugged Out on Death Row" or suitable Ruggae/Rugga classic. While I'm dishing out advice here is another tasty rugget of information that goes right for the rugular. Don't stick metal objects into rug sockets or you will experience rugor mortis. This book is finer than the collected works exhibited in the Ruggenheim Museum in it's artistic merit. Sit down with a rug of tea perhaps on a rugboat and enjoy it, or even take a bar stool in your local Rug and Lettuce with a rug of frothing ale. If you encounter a buxom young wench with a nice set of rugs, offer to walk her home so she doesn't get rugged. But all this is rendered rugatory when considering the actual subject matter of this book, namely, carpets. Read this book, you'd be a rug not to. If you don't, well, you've rug your own grave.
   Rugs and Kisses!
   
   (I do hope this review conforms to the Rules and Rugulations that Amazon sets forth!)



2. What I mean is, the book is full of vignettes that illustrate basic points about shopping -- AND EVEN ABOUT NEGOTIATING !! -- things that are obvious once you think about them, but which you might never have realized. My favorite example: Suppose you see a rug with a price tag of a certain amount, and you say to the salesperson, "The most I'd pay is [such-and such]" -- well, what you've really just said, without knowing it, is that the amount you said is THE LEAST you're going to pay, not "the most," because you've shown that you're willing to pay it and that you can. It's a useful kind of thing to be aware of for any deal you might ever be involved in, whether as buyer or seller. I'm sure you could get things like this from Donald Trump's books, but it's interesting that they're here too.
   
   The book gives an EXCELLENT overview of oriental rugs. The writing and organization are excellent. You'll learn about the main types of rugs, and how to recognize them -- and how to match and combine rugs. Even in the most elegant settings, we often see POOR combinations; this book gives good, easily-applied guidelines for doing a GOOD job of this.
   
   Some readers criticize the book's pricing guidelines -- but actually they're quite good and very useful, as long as you realize their limitations. Yes, they're simplistic, and the projected rates of appreciation were recognizably absurd even at the time the book was written. (By those formulas, most rugs before long would have attained the value of Fort Knox.) So, the author was a bit innumerate, and anyone who purchased rugs assuming infinite price appreciation has been disappointed. Blame the author? Maybe a little.



3. I first encountered Rugs_to_Riches when I was researching and planning the purchase of my Persian Rug. I found five books at my local library, one of them dated 1908, that covered the topic of purchasing and keeping oriental carpets. All of them, with the exception of Rugs_to_Riches stated that "the carpets you buy today aren't as good as the old ones available 30, or 40, years ago." This is basically balderdash!

   Rugs_to_Riches proved to be a refreshing exception to this nonsense. It was the best starting guide that a beginner like me could find as I searched out one of those beautiful treasures of the orient. The pricing guides are good for comparison of type & quality, but should not be relied upon for exact valuation of a carpet.

   Also, the old rule of "one man's trash is another man's treasure" applies here. Never ever purchase an oriental carpet because it may be valuable. If it doesn't match your home's decor, it'll end it's life as a moth-eaten rag in your closet. Make sure that you actually like the piece before you buy it. I purchased my carpet in a bazaar, not at a dealer's shop in Houston, New York, or even, in L.A. As a consequence, my purchase was *FINAL*! If you plan on purchasing a carpet with even the slightest chance of returning it, because it doesn't match your decor, then go to a reputable dealer. If you are sure of your taste in carpets, design, and home decor, then, grab this reference, and book a flight to the Orient for a haggle-fest.

   Finally, on the purchasing of "antique" carpets. Never buy one, unless you see a pattern that you definitely want & you can't get it in a "new" carpet. Most of the price of "antique" carpets is for the (mostly unprovable) antiqueness of the carpet. Only buy an "antique" from a dealer, if you are purchasing one for it's antiqueness. Never, that is, unless you are an "expert", or you can afford to be "taken". Have an "antique" appraised *first* by a reputable 3d party *before* you bid on it. Otherwise, just buy a new one, and remenber that your great grand children will have incontrovertable proof of their "antique" oriental carpet in about 100 years, or so.

   All in all, a good book for the beginner. I recommend it.




4. If you are new at collecting, want to know if you want to collect, or just want to know about rugs, this is a good book. Takes you from the beginning and walks you through. Not a book a dealer would use, but one I would recommend for those curious. Beachum's review here on Amazon is a little too harsh in my opinion. While the price of rugs is too fluid and dependent on variables that cannot be captured in a book, there are some valuable points the pricing chapters make for the beginner. Not all rugs appreciate at the same rate. Condition and age are critical. Etc. I found the "value factor multiplier" interesting and roughly accurate - that is - a rank ordering of which type of rugs have appreciated faster over time than others. The focus on the economics of rug collecting was disturbing.



5. This book is a decent introduction to oriental rugs for the complete beginner. Unfortunately, its credibility is seriously undermined by its just plain silly pricing information. The book purports to reduce the value of any oriental rug to a formula, and perpetuates the myth that most oriental rugs are investments. Readers are advised to rip out the pricing appendices in the back and throw them away, and simply read the front for an overview of oriental rugs.

5 comments about Oriental Rugs of the Silk Route: Culture, Process & Selection.

1. I recently purchased John Gregorian's book with the anticipation that it would resemble his father's earlier book that is among my favourite "rug books".(I have been a collector for over 30 years.) I was disappointed and must add it to other texts of recent years that do not offer a balanced view of present day rug production.
   Iran still produces many beautiful and exquisite pieces that until recently were embargoed by the USA. Fortunately for those of us that reside outside the USA we can obtain these pieces but they no longer appear in many recent books. While rugs from Pakistan, India, China, etc may copy Iranian originals, they rarely use the same dye colors and lack the mastery of the originals.
   To all budding authors out there, "can we please have a truly representative modern rug book free of political prejudice and exclusion?"



2. We are avid rug collectors and found this book to be a valuable resource. Even though we are fairly knowledgeable about rugs, we still learned from this book. It's the kind of book we wish we had when we were first starting our collection. The author reveals so much in a truly delightful way -- it's kind of like having a close friend or family member with many years of experience guide you through the whole world of oriental rugs. It's hard to say what we like best about this book because it is such a quality piece of work -- from the thoughtful and interesting writing, to the stunning color and black and white photographs, to the fine typesetting, layout and binding. This book is a work of art in and of itself, much like a fine oriental rug. We especially like the colorful stories about the rug weavers, their culture, and way of life. Art is often a great window on another culture, and the author gets this across in a beautiful way.



3. In Oriental Rugs Of The Silk Route, John Gregorian draws upon his years of expertise to provide an illustrated tour of modern day oriental rug-making centers. The informative, often fascinating text is beautifully and profusely illustrated with superb color photography, complemented by vintage bland-and-white images of Middle-Easter villages and cities, the rug-making culture and process. The reader will find a wealth of expert advice for buying an oriental rug, how to evaluate quality and price, buying and trading customs (with tips on negotiating a purchase), and invaluable ideas respecting interior decoration with original rugs. Oriental Rugs Of The Silk Route is enhanced further with a glossary of oriental rug terminology and a helpful appendix on oriental rug cleaning and repair. Oriental Rugs Of The Silk Route is rewarding reading for the oriental rug enthusiast, and a highly recommended introduction for the novice.



4. Finally, a niche book with character that focuses on the highest quality carpets. Beyond the pictures it chronicles the Gregorian family experience with this genre and brings us back to the days when the original treasures were more readily available - not that long ago! A must for the serious collector or the simple enthusiast.



5. Gregorian's book is compelling stuff and speaks about a part of the world where bargaining is as much an artform as the rugs themselves. Gregorian is an expert on buying, using extremely sophisticated, yet seemingly simple, methods developed over generations. It reminds me of what the owner of the most expensive men's clothing store in America once told me, "I make more money buying the fabrics than I do selling the suits."

   Being an author myself ("Why People Don't Buy Things"...the new science of selling products, services and ideas based on over 50,000 interviews), I'm fascinated by the time-proven methods employed by Gregorian. Obviously, they've been passed down by his family and work as well today as they did years ago.

   This book is well worth the read even if you're not into rugs. It could help you save money the next time you're buying an oriental rug, an expensive painting or a luxury automobile.

3 comments about The Big Book Of Hooked Rugs: 1950-1980s.

1. The beautiful photographs in this book are a great inspiration for the modern day rugger. To see the color selections and the patterns of the past, what could be more inspiring. I loved that the mats were grouped into themes.



2. the book is too thick to be published in paperback. The spine of my book has already broken. However, the pictures are excellent.



3. This book makes a great reference. It provides a wide variety of themes, color palates, and styles to incorporate into your new creations, beside being a great resource for collectors.

No comments about Navajo Weaving: Three Centuries of Change (Studies in American Indian Art) (Studies in American Indian Art).

1 comments about Hooked on Rugs: Outstanding Contemporary Designs.

1. HOOKED ON RUGS: OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY DESIGNS covers rug hooking, portraying over five hundred examples of different rug hooking projects in full color photos and gathering the works of modern hooking artists from all over the US and Canada. Think 'rug hooking' and you're likely to think it a lost art: look at HOOKED ON RUGS and you'll realize it's a thriving contemporary hobby with thousands of needleworkers across the country. Don't think just floor coverings either: projects include wall hangings and furniture, hold a vast variety of approaches, and serve as inspiration for aspiring rug workers. Any general-interest library with a section strong in crafts or needlework and any specialty collection of needlework and crafting projects will want HOOKED ON RUGS.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

1 comments about Navajo Pictorial Weaving, 1880-1950.

1. This book is more than just great pictures-of which there are many.It provides an excellent history lesson on the introduction of figural elements in Navajo weaving, including the stories behind the popular Yei, Yeibichais and sandpainting weavings. There are 170 full-color examples of weavings that illustrate this book, comprising one of the most difinitive surveys of pictorial weavings. The book is boken out into nine sections, such as "Birds, Flora, Fauna", and gives an imformative look at each style's evolution. The authors also reviews the impact Western civilization has had on weaving styles, including the introduction of trains, cars and buidlings. It has helped me date rugs in my own collection as well as those I've considered purchasing. It really is a "must buy" for rug enthusiasts.

No comments about Hooked Rugs Today 2006: Holidays, Geometrics, People, Animals, Landscapes, Accessories, and More.

No comments about Oriental Rugs.