Navajo Rug and Blanket Cleaning Los Angeles

Navajo blankets and rugs (these are not pile rugs, but rather flat weave and kilims) are highly regarded and have been sought after for the past 200 years. Weaving Navajo blankets and rugs has always been an important part of the Navajo economy. These pieces were originally utilitarian and were produced for the use of the Navajo families and not for the market. As we get closer to the end of the 19th century, we see the shift towards the market and the customers.


The designs of the Navajo rugs and blankets have always been geometrical with broken lines. The Navajo weavers are mostly women and use vertical (upright) wooden looms.

This morning we picked up four Navajo rugs for cleaning and repair. One of them was a big rug (almost 10 x 12) which is an unusual size for a Navajo rug. They were all damaged and we should take care of the repair to restore and save them. Cleaning Navajo rugs and blankets need special care as some of the red colors and dyes usually bleed.

Those who usually have Navajo rugs are the type of people who appreciate art. Many of our customers who have had such rugs and kilims are musicians, designers, artists or work in the entertainment industry.

Khosrow Sobhe
Certified Rug Specialist
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
310-770-9085

Rug Tent sale and Our Third Day, A Busy Day

It was Sunday today, the third and the final day of our Rug Tent Sale. It was the busiest day of the sale. We were busy from around the noon, up to 8:00 pm. I got home around 9:30 pm. We received several rugs and kilims for cleaning and repair. We also sold few area rugs and several other hand knotted Persian rugs and two tapestries. We sold few hand knotted Qashqai rugs made with hand spun wool and natural dye.

We all got tired today, but since the sale was a success, it was OK. Our customers were also very happy to find good deals.

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

Kilims, Kelims, Gilims Cleaning, Repair and Stain Removal in Los Angeles

We have received many Kilims (also spelled kelims or in Persian gelims) for cleaning, repair and color bleeding problems in the past few days.

Kilims are very decorative and can be used as floor covering, wall hanging, table or sofa covering and etc. Kilims are flat weaves and can be considered as rugs without pile. The designs of kilims are mostly geometrical compared with curvilinear designs of the rugs and carpets. Since kilims were originally used for domestic and household purposes, their designs have gone through less changes compared with the designs of Oriental rugs and carpets. The designs of kilims have gone under lesser changes since they were not made for market and commercial use.

I have noticed that those customers who have had kilims appreciate art and have been musicians, artists, designers or as such. Kilims are mostly produced in Iran and in Turkey on wool foundation. There are less expensive kilims made on cotton foundation as well. Afshars who reside in Kerman and Khorassan provinces in Iran make the most beautiful kilims in the world.

Historically, the Afshars were Turkoman tribe which became separated from other Turkoman groups. The Afshar tribes were first moved to the south of Kerman region in the sixteenth century by Shah Tahmasp, the second monarch of the Safavid dynasty (1502-1736).

Some Afshars can be found near Mashad (north east of Iran), as well as in the region near Bidjar (north west of Iran) and in other areas. Traditional Turkic dialects still spoken by some Afshars. In providing the above mentioned text, we consulted the following: Opie, James Tribal Rugs The Tolstoy Press, Portland, Oregon 1992.

We have utilized the fine weaving tradition of the region to program and supply the finest type of flat weaves which have received a very warm welcome from both the industry and the end users. Some experts refer to this kind of weave as Soumak.The patient Afshar ladies are the creators of these fine pieces of arts. Theseno-pile flat weaves are very decorative and match many kinds of interior designs these days.

Afshar flat weaves are made on both vertical and horizontal looms. Vertical looms are more sanitary and better ergonomically for the weavers.

We have many Afshar kilims in our Los Angeles rug gallery.

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

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