The Hajji Baba Club is the oldest rug society in the US, boasting members from some of New York City’s historical elite. But the club has evolved in recent years to attract the next generation of rug and textile enthusiasts. Under the helm of President Roger Pratt, the club is organizing a variety of new educational events, museum collaborations and projects designed to inspire collectors from a broad demographic profile.
I have spent many an hour scouring this planet for shoes inspired by carpets. I have personally owned and loved more than a few Kilim shoes and flats. Much to my delight, designers often integrate carpet motifs or actual fragments and pieces of rugs into housewares and sometimes even shoes.
In this article we explore the most expensive Navajo Chief’s blanket that ever sold at auction.
Taking a look at “The Scream” by Edvard Munch which sold at Sotheby’s auction for over $100,000,000
There is no question that Gail Shields is great at what she does. Her projects have graced many of the top interior design publications including Architectural Digest and New York Spaces among countless others.
What do decorators look for when shopping for antique rugs? Who would be better to answer that than one of New York’s finest young up and coming interior decorator Harry Cushing of Harry Cushing and Company? He was nice enough to share his thoughts with us:
The unshaven man stood on a boulder looking up at the cave ceiling. The women’s name was Gryt and his name Grunt. He listened to her instructions, for they were husband and wife. As he was married, he did nothing right. He kept dropping his bearskin loincloth to his knees as he lifted his arms to draw and pulling them up; she scolded him for not wearing his belt. She saw the full moon. In the distance, wolves wailed and she laughed. He kept reaching toward the top the cave and making pictures. Together, they decorated the vault and marked the rock face with charcoal that she had just pulled out of the fire. Adding some color from a red rock that man later learned was iron, he scraped a blue rock that had copper in it and made a third color. He stepped back pleased as deer appeared on the walls of his home. Gryt smiled and Grunt went to bed.
In this article we take a look at the tradition of creating the iconic Brussels biennial flower carpet.
What are you doing this summer? Generally, that is one of the first questions asked to a college student. Response: “I am an intern at an antique rug gallery.” Usually people have a double take when they hear this. Antique rugs are associated with a specific crowd, not a liberal arts student. But, as I explain to them, it all comes together. The term antique rugs is marred by misconceptions. It strays from the general art gallery mentality and instead focuses on a consumer oriented market, not the contemporary art scene.