Friday, October 28, 2011

Magic Carpet

Last week, Manzor, The Carpet Man, came by our flat to pick up some carpets that we had been "trying out."  One of our neighbors had hosted a party a month or so ago and we brought home several rugs of various sizes and designs.  Manzor took a couple of rugs, but left us with 2 and an appointment to pick us up this morning for us to visit his warehouse.  So, this morning, as appointed, his worker shows up at our door to escort us down to south Bombay, but with him, he had 3 rugs that Manzor thought we might like.  Out of those 3, one really caught our eye!
This rug is 9 x 12 and is Cashmere wool
We left the flat thinking this one is a great fit for our space and we love the red, green, gold and blue color scheme.

Now, when Manzor brought his carpets to Dave and Kim's last month, he had all sizes, colors and designs.  But after visiting our flat last week, seeing our stuff and talking to us, he knew better what we were looking for!
We arrived at his warehouse, but were only able to visit one room of it, as the ground floor room was being painted.  After climbing up 3 flights of stairs we arrived to a room piled high with carpets!
Knowing we liked rusty reds, not ruby or garnet, Manzor and his workers began to roll out the carpet!  Staring with a few 9 x 12 and working down to runners and prayers rugs, we probably viewed, touched and walked on over 50 carpets!  If a rug caught our eye, Manzor would tell us it's history:  whether it was new or antique-and if antique, just how old, where it was made, the name of it's design or style, and the kind of wool from which it is made.   We ended up bringing home a total of 12 pieces:  11 rugs and an incredible saddle bag used on either horses or camels in caravans! I think this is by far our favorite piece!
We will add a cushion to each pouch to create sit-upon floor cushions!
Another, in a long list of things that is incredible about India, is that Manzor delivered all of these rugs to our flat this evening.  We will keep them, try them out for a month or two.   After a time, he will come to the flat and see what we like.  He'll take those which we have ruled out and then give us more time with the ones we are seriously considering.   Things that made you say, "Only in India!"  
Rick, Manzor, Kelli and one of Manzor's workers

Manzor and a few of his workers

Keep in mind that all of these rugs are woven by hand by families from Persia (Iran), Turkey, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Baluchistan.  The tribes who create the rugs raise the sheep, sheer it, spin it, dye it with natural (vegetable) dyes, spin it again and then weave the designs with out a pattern.  Each carpet it truly an original!   

Here's what we brought home.  I'll caption with what I remember about each one!
3 x 5 Turkish Kilim
According to Wikipedia:  Kilims (Persianگلیم gelim) are flat tapestry-woven carpets or rugs produced from the Balkans to Pakistan. Kilims can be purely decorative or can function as prayer rugs

Antique (+100 years) old silk prayer rug.  Oh, so soft! Rick really loves this one!
Prayer rug
This is one of my favorites!  It's 4 x 6 and  the  colors are made from vegetable dyes.
 Is a combination of silk and wool and is so soft!

8 x 10 Reversible Kilim, side 1

Side 2 ...Love it!  It's a little brighter than the other side.

Shalimar carpet, moghul design 
8 x 10.  It looks red and green if you stand on one end,
then rose'ish and light green if you stand on the other!
It is a blend of silk and wool.











Antique Shiraz, 7 x 9.  You can see how the color is uneven from  use.  

I love the center medallion on this one.  We all love this one, too!
5 x 7, not one of my favorites, but still a beautiful rug!
Antique Baluch.  These are made in SE Iran and Western Afghanistan.  

Same carpet.  Baluch rugs have a more open weave.  Another one we all love!
Kilim runner.  This one is embossed with the darker design made from  a different wool.
 I love the way it fits in our kitchen!
Now the hard part!  Which do we choose?  Which can't we live without?  For the next few weeks we will rearrange our furniture and try the rugs in different rooms to see what works where and eliminate those that don't!  Rick and I figure the rugs that we select will find themselves in our forever home when we finally return to the states as a reminder of our Magic Carpet ride in Magnificent Mumbai!