3 comments about Oriental Rugs: Persian (Oriental Rugs).

1. This is a well presented and informative book, covering the history, manufacture, style and quality of Persian carpets. It is well illustrated with full page photographs of the different styles and patterns of carpets from numerous districts of Iran. As well as the brief opening section on history, patterns, manufacturing techniques etc., there is a useful table of information about different rugs, indicating sizes, quality and origin. Each photograph is accompanied by a brief description. It is here that I found the book lacking in its overall degree of content and scholarship. I am much more impressed with the extent of knowledge and detail which can be found in "Oriental Carpet Design" by PRJ Ford. This book is more comprehensively illustrated and has vastly more information in all areas. It is also cheaper!



2. Easy to use. Table reference in the opening section gives a quick overview of the various regions. Good color illustrations coupled with comprehensive cross referencing makes this a "must have" reference book.



3. This is a scholarly and easy-to- use view of the Persian capet-- in history and in the present. It is organized by geographical regions and includes an enormous number of color photos-- for each region. The description for each type of Persian carpet is concise and very helpful in determining quality and other criteria about particular types. This is the book I return to time after time.

No comments about Carpets (Techniques, Traditions and History) (Techniques, Traditions and History).

1 comments about The Carpet: Origins, Art and History.

1. This book is a good overview of carpets produced in eight areas- Anatolia, Persia, The Caucasus, Western Turkestan, Eastern Turkestan, India, China, and Europe. The listing of these titles of the various carpet areas should tell you that this book has focused on historical carpets. It is neither the most basic nor the most detailed of books on this subject. There is more emphasis on earlier, more historical carpets, and on more commercially produced rather than tribal carpets. The photographs are wonderful. Overall, I would give this book high marks. Target market for this book would be interior designers or highly informed buyers, not so much the rug dealers or other professionals who want even more detailed information.

No comments about Sovereign Carpets: Unknown Masterpieces from European Collections.

No comments about Sotheby's Guide to Oriental Carpets.

2 comments about Kings, Heroes and Lovers: Pictorial Rugs from the Tribes and Villages of Iran.

1. Tanavoli has truly captured the rarities of Iran. He begins the book by laying out all the Kings of his books subjects, continuing on to heroes and lovers of Iranian classical literature, then a short capture of stories from the Quran. He then begins explaining the pictorial overview of Rugs from the Armenians to Sufism.
   
   It's remarkable how diverse Iranian culture is, which means that in order to understand the real meaning behind these unique creations, it's necessary to first understand the diversity that can vary greatly from one Dynasty to the next. There is an immense display of Rugs, and not just anything that is commonly found. The Rugs display all sorts of kings, and even ones with interesting female Icons. It's really worth investigating this book, it a can make a great collection Item.



2. Tanavoli has done it again. His insight and knowledge of Tribal and Village rugs from Persia are incomparable. The pieces illustrated in this book are among the finest collections. I enjoyed the text and Mr. Tanavolis insight and thoughts of each item illustrated. Highly recommended for the advanced collector and novice.

1 comments about The Atlas of Rugs and Carpets: A Comprehensive Guide for the Buyer and Collector.

1. This book takes the buckshot approach in order to reach its audience, and more often than not, misses the mark entirely. An insubstantial blurb of a paragraph or two for each area substitutes for a wealth of information; the descriptions are so general as to be easily transposed to any other rug-producing region in the world. The book is replete with beautiful pictures of antique rugs, but contemporary rugs are conspicuous by their absence, leading me to believe that the author hails from the school that believes that new rugs do not measure up to the standards of the past; a position of simplistic ignorance. Consequently, the last century of rug weaving is entirely ignored. As is usually the case in this subject, tribal rugs figure prominently throughout the book at the expense of the more fluid, elaborately designed city rugs. The author's bias extends as far as to equip the book with larger, livelier photographs of tribal rugs. I appreciate the tribal form, but the balance of the book is upset by its emphasis on these types. The introductory chapters covering dyes and the weaving process are inadequate and insubstantial, useful only to those whose interest in the subject will not progress beyond this book.

1 comments about Penin Guide to Spanish Wine 2006.

1. I have found that the annual Penin guide is the best resource for learning about individual Spanish wines and producers. Although it has a good general introduction to Spanish wine, the heart of the book consists of tasting notes and ratings for the most recent releases from hundreds of Spanish wineries. It is an annual guide, like Gambero Rosso's excellent guide to Italian Wines, so it might not have notes on the vintage that is currently available on store shelves. Another bonus is that it has addresses and contact details for all the wineries.
   
   For Americans used to the more generous ratings of the Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast, some of Penin's ratings might seem a bit harsh. In this guide an 80 point wine is very good and a 90 point wine is truly excellent. Penin has 3 decades of experience with Spanish wines and, for the most part, I've found the notes and ratings to be spot on.
   
   Unfortunately, by the time the guide is translated and published in English, it is almost a year out of date! I was able to get my copy from Amazon.co.uk months before it was available in the USA.

2 comments about Moroccan Carpets.

1. If you are interested in Moroccan carpets you should definitely have this book. This is by far the best book on the subject and the best book by Russell Pickering and his daughter Brooke Pickering. The pictures are fantastic. I have seen the rugs in this book in person and the pictures in the book are dead on accurate. The interspersing of pictures, text, and white space is masterful. Hali was involved in this book and it has the Hali look and the Alan Marcuson's masterful touch is very evident. Danny Shaffer is the editor and he does a great job. The book is easy to read and understand.



2. The illustrations and narrative of the MOROCCAN CARPETS by Russell and Brooke Pickering brings out the true allure of the Berber hand-loomed carpet showing the mood and feeling it lends to any setting. The exquisite designs and colors combine to create soft pastel formality or vibrant tribal decor. Working without the aide of a pattern, the artisan produces centuries-old motifs unique to each region reflecting the imagination and genius of the master weavers. This book gives us rare insight into the beauty of the Moroccan art of weaving.

No comments about Persian Flatweaves.