Stain Removal - Kashan Rug

We had an interesting customer story occur a couple weeks ago here at Rug Ideas. A couple brought in a very nice Kashan Rug that had some apparent color bleeding all over the rug(which made the ivory parts pink) as well as a large white stain on the bottom of it. What happened was that the couple decided to wash the rug themselves with household cleansers as it had not been cleaned in a couple years. They wet it in their backyard and once they started to wash the rug they noticed the colors started bleeding all over. In a panic they asked around and searched the internet and heard of a remedy that requires putting yogurt on the rug. The yogurt, however, made a totally new problem and stained the area that it touched. The owners of the rug gave up on their DIY rug cleaning and decided to take it to the experts... here at Rug Ideas! Take a look at the before pics below:

With all the bad news they brought, we brought some hope with our 59 years of expertise. The good news is that they brought the rug in right away once the problem happened. Letting this kind of problem sit means that the bleeding might set in and the damage could become permanent. Stain Removal is what we were going to have to do, but a good cleaning would need to come first. The Kashan rug went through our deep cleaning process, which first requires dusting of the rug to remove and debris that might turn into mud once water hits the rug, then color stabilizers to prevent further color bleeding. It then was completely wet washed using specialty shampoo made just for Oriental rugs. Once it has been thoroughly cleaned and rinsed it dries naturally under the sun. After the cleaning we had to do multiple steps of stain removal to get out the bleeding that occur when the owners originally washed the rug themselves. This process is time consuming and requires light applications, with time to the application to set in, then  further applications to get the ivory color back. Great care had to be taken so as not to lighten any other color or designs on the rug. Take a look at how fantastic this Kashan rug turned out below:

Our customers are picking their rug up in a few days, and we know that they will be absolutely ecstatic at how great the rug looks and that the errors they made in washing the rug themselves were taken care of. If you have a rug that needs cleaning, leave it to the experts at Rug Ideas, where more than half a century of experience dealing with rugs means we know exactly the best methods of taking care of your precious textiles. And if you have a rug that has had color bleeding happen and you need top quality stain removal, bring in your rug as soon as possible so that you have the best chances of getting it back to normal. At Rug Ideas we love rugs... it's our passion!

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Rugs From Iran (Part I)

For many people, the terms "Oriental Rug" and "Persian Rug" are mistakenly synonymous. The Persian Empire was where rug making reached its zenith during the sixteenth century, and many of the traditional patterns and weaving techniques are still being practiced in Iran. In addition, there are other types of rug weaving in Iran which range with simple pieces produced by nomadic people to sophisticated rugs produced in workshops which have preserved the historic Persian art.

The Persian Empire once extended from China in the East to Hungary in the West. Today only the rugs woven in Iran are referred to as Persian. Iranian rugs are usually named after the town where they are produced, and a few examples are Kerman, Sarouk, Tabriz and Heriz. Each area has its traditional patterns and typical palette of colors. The design in Iranian rugs reflects the Persian passion for detail and displays an intricate interplay between geometric and floral patterns.

Come into Rug Ideas so we can show you our large selection of handmade rugs from Iran... great pieces of artwork that can used in your home.

sourced from 'The Mystique Of Oriental Rugs'

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Certified Rug Specialist Class in Dallas, Texas

Today was Tuesday and the second day of our Certified Rug Specialist class. After having breakfast, I met with other participants in the lobby of our hotel and then we all took the shuttle to the Oriental Rug Cleaning Company where our class is held.

It was a very interesting day and we had tons of discussions about Heriz, Bidjar, Sarouk, Mahal, Farahan, Kashan, Kerman and many other types of rugs. As always, the instructors, Ellen Amirkhan and Aaron Groseclose were wonderful. They complement each other pretty well and make the learning process enjoyable.

Today was an important day in the American and I better say in the world history. It was the inauguration of the 44th U.S. president, so we took a short break from the class to go down stairs to watch the oath of the office of President Obama on TV. After that, we all returned to our class and continued the work.

Ellen formed 4 groups and gave each group a rug to identify with all the technical details. Each group had a secretary who was responsible to write down and report the findings. Ours was a beautiful antique Tabriz rug. Rick (from Nevada) and Jim (from Atlanta) were in my group. We discussed and reached an agreement on why our designated piece was a Tabriz rug. It was fun and a good practice. Then all the groups submitted their findings to the class and we discussed the matters inm ore details.

We have been bombarded with rug stuff (and I love that) since yesterday when the class started. There is lady among the participants who is the president of a big rug cleaning company based in Albama. They have been in rug cleaning for almost 20 years. We have students from all over the country. This course has been in existence since 12 years ago with roughly 60 certified specialistswho have graduated. This course is conducted every two years and those who participate in the 3-day prerequisite course and participate in the advanced level course and pass the written exam as well as the rug ID exam and complete a project, a dissertation type of work can be certified by the Restoration Association Industry (RIA) organization. RIA is a professional association comprising more than 1,300 member organizations, representing over 20,000 cleaning and restoration professionals.

Khosrow Sobhe
www.RugIdea.com
310-770-9085

A Record Breaking Persian Silk Rug From Isfahan Sold for $4,450,000

A SILK ISFAHAN RUG
Central Persia, Circa 1600
Approximately 7 ft. 7 in. x 5 ft. 7 in. (231 cm. x 170 cm.)
Pre-Lot Text

PROPERTY FROM THE DORIS DUKE COLLECTION AND THE NEWPORT RESTORATION FOUNDATION (LOTS 31-41)

From Kouchakji Frères, New York
Mrs. Rainey Rogers, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, 18-20 November 1943, lot 407
Hagop Kevorkian
Anonymous, Sothebys New York, 8 December 1990, lot 54

Literature

The Art News, New York, June 14, 1930, title page
Diamond, M. S., Loan Exhibition of Persian Rugs of the so-called Polish Type, New York, 1930, no. 15, plate 1
McCleary, William H., Polish Rugs from Persia, The Antiquarian, XV, 1930, p. 62
Pope, A. U., A Survey of Persian Art, London and New York, 1939, vol. III, pp. 2397-9 and illustrated in color, vol. VI, pl. 1261
Spuhler, Friedrich, Seidene Reprasentationsteppiche der mittleren bis spaten Safwiden Seit-Die soq. Polenteppiche,
Berlin, 1968, no. 141

Lot Notes

Warp: silk, ivory, Z2S, alternate warp strongly depressed
Weft: silk, ivory, 1 strand of unspun silk, 3 shoots
Pile: silk, asymmetrical knot open to the left
Density: 24-26 horizontal, 33-37 vertical per sq. in.
Sides: silk, 1 cord of 2 warps each, overcast in wine Ends: Incomplete
Colors: citrine, cashew, taupe, indigo, sand, cornflower, teal, mushroom, pale to deep raspberry, celery, cranberry, tumeric, pale aqua, balsam green, peacock blue, acorn, black (17)

This luminescent Isfahan rug is a magnificent example of the apex of Safavid art during the reign of Shah Abbas (1587 - 1629). It is remarkable not only for its luminescent beauty, but also for its intricate design and construction. Noted scholars Arthur Upham Pope and Phyllis Ackerman included the rug, then in the collection of Grace Rainey Rogers, in their seminal work, A Survey of Persian Art written in 1930. Pope wrote eloquently and poetically in detail about this rug commenting "Nothing further in the way of refinement, imagination, perfection of technique, or infinite charm of colour was produced in this period" (Pope and Ackerman, p. 2397).

The use of silk for both the warps and the wefts allows for an intricate and graceful double system of scrolling arabesque vinery and tendrils. The central medallion is very subtle allowing the rug at first glance to read as an overall infinite trellis design. If the center medallion were in its original condition it would probably have the effect of a blossom or lily pad floating on a pool. The variety of blossoms, leaves and vines make for dynamism unparalleled in carpets of this period. In addition to blossoms, Pope notes "half invisible cloudbands flutter in and out with random grace" (p. 2398). The border is equally as elegant. The spiral arabesques terminating in split-leaf tendrils are overlapped by refined and unusual "pin-wheel" rosettes. Corner resolution, often difficult with a complicated design, is handled with finesse creating a robust flow to the border.

The range of colors used here is far more expansive and harmonious than is usually seen in carpets of this period. Many of the colors belong to the yellow spectrum producing an overall subtlety that is countered by the boldness of the darker shades of emerald green, dark brown and scarlet red as well as the high notes of white and light blue. As Pope concludes: "the mellow golden glow that emanatesis no accident but the result of exceptionally careful planning, a remarkable blending of tonal effect, the whole guided by perfect taste." (p. 2398).

When sold in 1990, this rug was catalogued as Kashan, but current opinion considers it to have been woven in Isfahan, established as the capital in . Although our example is reminiscent of the small silk Kashan group from the 16th century in terms of draftsmanship, the overall tonality and design are more reminiscent of the "Polonaise" group of carpets which are securely attributed to Isfahan.

However, the present rug is far finer and more exquisitely drawn than almost all "Polonaise" examples suggesting an earlier date for this Isfahan rug. Michael Franses asserts in his article Earthsong (www.hali.com, 14 December 2007) that this rug, along with the Liechtenstein and the Czartoryski Isfahans (Pope and Ackerman, pls. 1242 and 1243), form a group that is the prototype of cotton-warped 'Polonaise' rugs. All three have a two-plane system of arabesque and tendril vinery; however, our rug is a departure from the other two in relation to construction. Whereas the Czartoryski and Liechtenstein examples are silk pile on a metal-thread ground, the Isfahan offered here is made completely of fine silk. Because of this salient difference, ours seems more delicate and refined in drawing and execution. It can be further suggested that this small group acts as the link between the earlier 16th century silk Kashan and the typical Isfahan 'Polonaise' rugs. For an example of a small silk Kashan now in the Al-Thani Collection in Doha, please see The Collection of The Barons Nathaniel and Albert von Rothschild, Christie's London, 8 July 1999, lot 190.

It is not difficult to imagine that because of the finesse of weave, delicacy of design, subtlety of color and overall harmonious balance this rug was originally intended for a dignitary or as a diplomatic gift. The rug continued to maintain an esteemed provenance residing in the collection of Grace Rainey Rogers, Hagop Kevorkian and most recently, Doris Duke and The Newport Restoration Foundation.

There is no question that this is a masterpiece of Safavid art. The rarity together with the exquisite drawing and variation of a single tonality make this one of the most elegant and compelling rugs of the Shah Abbas period.

Mercedes Benz Logo on Persian Rugs

I received a new shipment of Persian rugs from Tehran while ago. My supplier has sent me a Mercedes Benz logo made on a Persian rug along with other rugs and kilims. The size of this little rug 21" x 16 and the knot per square inch, KPSI is around 300. The pile is wool on cotton foundation (warp). This hand knotted Persian carpet was made in the famous city of Kashan.



Khosrow Sobhe
www.rugidea.com
310-770-9085