CHRISTOPHER ROBIN ANDREWS

CLASSICAL CARPETS

(Click on Carpet to view larger, print quality image)

114" x 174"                  

©Classical Carpets 

Design by Christopher Robin Andrews, production directed by I. Tekin,  weaving overseen by Mustafa, woven by Elmas, Naciye, Husne, Hatice & Ayse, yarns dyed by Mustafa, finished carpet washed by Abdurrahman and Abdullah , completed in April of 2008 in a village in the Ushak region of Central Anatolia. This carpet has ~ 100 knots @ square inch. Naturally dyed colors include indigo dark and light blue,  medium green, white, madder red, weld, yellow and naturally black sheep's wool. The carpet is all handspun wool, including the indigo dyed warp and madder dyed weft. The pile has a 20% mohair content, which strengthens the yarn and gives it a subtle sheen. The pile is hand sheared to a height of ~1/4".  It also has our characteristic wide selvedges, long kilims and exposed warp decorative fringes, which we see in the best preserved antique carpets.  The carpet has been hand washed with mild soap and water. It has a classic red oval medallion with a Rumi design on a blue ground, with a border that combines Kufic and floral motifs, thought to be one of the earliest of the known Ushak Medallion borders.  Our version of this border also contains a "corner solution", which although relatively rare in Anatolian designs, felt appropriate in this courtly rug. This monumental carpet design, our largest and most intricate to date, was inspired by the work and mentorship of the Italian carpet scholar and dealer Alberto Boralevi. (http://www.albertoboralevi.it)