This review is astonishing for me to write. I recently bought my own home by myself, and I worked two jobs for several years to get it done. I saved some more, and last year I was able to stain the fence in the yard and buy a darling antique bed set and a mattress for my bedroom. I bought the house on purpose with the original antique hardwood floors because in my heart of hearts, I have always dreamed of a hand loomed oriental rug with vibrant colors to build my (very small) living room around. I have not dared to paint it, replace the furniture, or even put up shelves until I could find the right thing. I have done some research on rugs while I was saving and dreaming while trawling through Craigslist hoping that someone could part with what I wanted in my price range. They are the ultimate in cultural artwork to me. They mean home, family, history. I slunk into AOP yesterday knowing that I probably had not saved enough, but desperate to at least peek at what was possible. I specifically chose this dealer because over they years, when I saw a rug I loved, it frequently came from there, and people had told me that they were very kind and had considerate pricing. An elegant man named Ali was at the front desk, and I told him EVERYTHING. Then I held my breath. Speaking very quietly, for almost an hour, he treated me to an education I may never have been able to get outside of an Iranian home. He started with what was available in my price range. Gave me lessons on how to choose a better quality but smaller rug for the size of my living room and then on how the rug is laid correctly against the entrance and pile in the Oriental manner. Where furniture is placed both on or off a rug. How all rugs with center medallions were displayed. The difference in tribal patterns and designs and the beautiful high quality reproductions coming out of India. How the economy has affected the amount of time that can be spent on the rug by the artist and how that has affected size and quality. We were joined for a few minutes by his brother- in- law Saheed who explained where he bought each one and the deals that he got and how the markets have changed. Then Ali took me to the back of the store and taught me the difference between hand loomed, machine loomed, and how to spot fakes or lesser quality backing. Then he brought out different antique textiles like a horse blanket and let me touch them. Examples of rugs only loomed for specific celebrations and families. And I never bought a thing. I left with pictures on my phone and grateful tears in my eyes. With thirty five years in our community, this family is a cultural bastion. I will be back. Rest assured. read more
