|
|||||||||||||||||
|
The spool axminister weave of this carpet is structurally the same as the same product line made today, however, the density of the pile and quality of wool are far superior to the Karastan rugs woven during the last 40 years, and even more so than their products woven since their acquisition by Mohawk in the early 1990s. In comparison, the pile height being produced during the 1928-1930s is slightly lower in measurement than the same product line today. This is not a matter of wear -- it is how the rugs came off the loom. The exceptional quality of wool and a little care from a discriminating owner allowed the rug a life of over 70 years with the rug remaining in exceptional, like new condition overall. As Karastan writes: "Karastan celebrates the art of style. With superbly crafted innovations that stand the test of time. Innovations that give your home ageless appeal. Ours is a singular vision: to create luxurious new carpet and rugs that someday will make the same enduring impression Karastan products of an older time still make today. At Karastan, we've been creating some of the world's most beautiful rugs for almost three-quarters of a century now. Yet, ever since April 8, Recognizing the value of reproducing highly fashionable hand-knotted rugs from Ancient Persia and the Orient, Marshall Field & Company had, starting in 1921, devoted a carpet mill in Leaksville, North Carolina to the creation of Oriental reproductions. It wasn't until later, however, that a New England inventor, Eugene Clark, was able to rebuild one of those old looms into the Karastan version still in use today.
With the introduction of the first Karastan, the creation of Oriental reproductions suddenly became a high art in itself. So far advanced was the new manufacturing process producing the rugs, in fact, that the trade press first referred to them as "Mystery Rugs." Considering the way the rugs were about to prove themselves under the most torturous conditions, though, it wouldn't be long before consumers would take up on another, perhaps even more apt, description for Karastan: "The Wonder Rug of America." Karastan has long been known for its exceptional standards of quality since they opened their mills in 1927. This rug comes from the traditional and famous oriental collection. These fine oriental pattern pieces have become sought after collectors items and as precious to the rug owner as the antique Persian orientals that their rugs modeled themselves after. During its long life, Karastan struggled with their ongoing relationship supplying Sears with the "Servistan" collection. Eventually, the carpet giant Bigelow merged with Karastan offering it a new lease on life. In 1993, Karastan-Bigelow was purchased by the Mohawk Rug Company, now known as the Mohawk Group.
COLOURS: The dyes are of exceptional quality and appear in the traditional Karastan colour pallette. The major colour palette consists of: charcoal blak, charcoal, rose, purple, dusty/smoked rose, steel, grey blue, acorn, golden-ocher, pale yellow ocher, and pale celadon green. There are over 21 colours total in the palette of this particular piece. CONDITION: The body of the rug has an exceptional like new full and consistent pile without any wear whatsoever. There is an extremely slight low area at the salvage on the mid-side of the rug (shown in close up detail above). The ends are finished off with a crossed and knotted cotton fringe of the period. CLEANING: This rug has been professionally hand cleaned by our conservation staff with a restorative thorough hand washing adhering to We do not use ANY optical enhancers of any kind (natural or chemical). Optical enhancers damage and pull dye to the surface of the rug's fibres, slowly stripping colour and character from the wool as the rug continues to age. Beware of descriptions claiming use of such materials and harsh cleaning methods to "brighten, add a sheen, or antique wash" the rugs -- all these methods deteriorate and damage these wonderful vintage and antique pieces beyond repair.
|
This is a period Bigelow Karastan decorative carpet from their first years in business. The rug is woven in the best quality weave, often now referred to as their "700 series".
1928, when the first Karastan rug came off the loom at 2:02 p.m., we've never once stopped getting excited about our dual roles as leaders in both manufacturing and interior design innovations.
The Karastan Axminster loom was the first power loom to produce a rug with a soft back that would show the pile yarns through the back just like the hand-woven originals from the Orient. Even so, it was only after the perfection of non-fading dyestuffs and a special "lustre wash," giving the rugs the realistric highlights and mellowness of the Oriental originals, that Karastan was born.
