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Classical Carpets is obviously
not the first company to make carpets that are inspired by older
rugs. The use of older designs in this way has been going on
since carpets were first made, it has always been a part of the
history of arts and crafts, this dynamic between precedent and
innovation.
When Chris first got interested in these
classical designs he looked all over the world for well made reproductions
of these particular patterns. What few he found was very disappointing,
the few reproductions were often of second rate
examples, as if designers and manufacturers are indeed looking
at the older designs, but they aren’t being very discriminating
about what they choose to reproduce. There often seems to be
little deep appreciation of the actual development of the design
motifs or real understanding of the structural qualities of the
geometries. Some of that is probably intentional, as there has
been a perception that the larger market for newly made,
traditionally styled carpets demands the less sophisticated and
simplified “tribal” or village types or at the other extreme,
for the more sophisticated curvilinear and floral "Persians". |
Chris has set out to do
something different, however, that is, to start with the most highly
developed examples of these venerated patterns as inspiration for
his work. Each of his designs can be traced back to
specific carpets that are considered to be the prime models of
their kind, often the exact same design configurations that appear in
the
Renaissance paintings.
Chris thoroughly analyzes these particular carpets, knot by
knot, preparing drawings, called cartoons, that are
extremely precise. For him, this is not just a scholarly academic
exercise, although it does require some intellectual rigor, it
is foremost a quest for beauty, and the desire to share these incredible
textiles again with the world.
"Alexander said 'the carpets are my teachers'. When we
look at them, really look at them, we can see in their color and
geometry and texture a vision of beauty and order of a
very high level, and this beauty is only fully manifested when it
is shared selflessly with others. My carpet mentors
have also done this for me, and so it is my duty, and pleasure
to do the same". |
