Victorian homes were ill-lit by modern electrical standards and tended to be cluttered with ornaments that were trophies of a rich imperial nation.
Army officers and colonial servants working in India often came back with a few oriental rugs which they had bought during their years of service.
Afghan rug dealers carrying a few rugs on their backs might call once or twice a year at the house. The prospective buyer was faced with a choice of perhaps a half dozen quite sombre rugs.
Rug buyers today are faced with a huge choice in size colour and pattern and as the influence of the minimalist look inspires more and more people, rugs with little or no pattern have become popular.
Gabbehs began to arrive in large numbers in the early 1990s. These long piled rugs from southern Iran have very little pattern and their chief characteristic is the wonderful range of colours which were often of deeper staurated reds, blues and greens
Although these deeper colours are popular, a milder palette suits those who want softer shades. Tibetan weavers in Nepal weave in gentler colours as well as one off rugs as special commissions. |
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