Salmiya

Mathematic breakthroughs in the 10 th and 11 th centuries in Baghdad and, for instance, Esfahan may have resulted during the 15 th century in an explosion of Islamic Art and Architecture. In particular the use of so called girih tiles, that is a set of polygonal prototiles with well-defined decorating lines may have allowed medieval artists in Iran and Central Asia to create decagonal tessellations with, in few cases, Penrose-similar patterns. Between the mid-14 th and early 16 th centuries, the Timurids ruled over much of the Islamic world. The highly sophisticated and strictly geometric (‘Islamic’) patterns on glazed tiles covering buildings and monuments became later more and more floral. Exquisite examples of this changing style can be seen in Esfahan's Grand Mosque and Darb-i Imam , Mashhad’s Gohar Shad mosque , or the Friday Mosque in Yazd . The Timurids were repelled in Iran by the rulers of the Safavid dynasty (1501–1736 CE) who established the Shi’a branch of Islam...

I have recently mentioned these two guys in another posting mainly featuring my friends Seyed and Mirwuis from Afghanistan. All of them are dedicated and honest carpet dealers with profound knowledge, selling high quality pieces from their home country, from Iran and Central Asia. I don’t know how carpet business is right now in Kuwait for Ali and Hussain. It all depends on the Westerners, I suppose. Kuwaitis go for different pieces, I was told in the Persian Carpet Exhibition in Salmiya. I had mentioned them in relation to a photo which I have carried for some time even in my wallet. It shows both, Ali and Hussain and a little Afghan girl weaving a carpet. Hussain, the lad on the right, proudly smiles into the camera. Ali, his older brother, seems to be more quiet but very self-confident. The girl doesn’t smile. In fact, you can feel even an atmosphere of embarrassment emanating from the girl. She might not be older than, say, seven or eight. Let’s call her Fatima. The photo is a ki...

I'm now in Toronto attending a conference. Today I read in the newspaper an ad about a sellout. Being a collector of Iranian carpets myself and admiring especially tribal rugs from Iran which represent very much the old culture of the country, and having had some experience with shipments of carpets and how carpet dealers in Iran depend on this business with the West , I feel ashamed when reading the following: SPECIAL LIQUIDATION IRAN U.S. TRADE EMBARGO BARGAIN IS OVER Due to the trade embargo, a large shipment of rugs which normally would have gone to collectors in New York and L. A. has been assigned to our company to liquidate them by the way of public sale. All types (Qum pure silk, Nain, Tabriz, Kashan, Mashad, Jaipur, Bidjar, Sarough, Chubi, Zigler and many tribal pieces) and sizes from 2' x 3' to 12' x 16' and runners up to 22' long. SALE: Sunday, July 06-2008 Every Rug from $ 99 - $ 1500 Doors Open 2:00 p.m. sharp Leaside Memorial Garden 1073 Millwood R...