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On a `rug'ged route
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Ancient carpets from different parts of the world, even restored ones are on show at the "Antique Carpet Exhibition" at the Indo-Persian Rugs and Carpets, TTK Road in the city.
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ISPHAHAN, TABRIZ, Samarkand, Kabul, Turkey, Baluchistan, Kashmir — the magic and romance of the world's `carpet route' unrolls itself as Tariq literally spreads a feast of antique carpets before one's bemused eyes. Most of the 100-150 carpets, Kilims and prayer rugs displayed at the `Antique Carpets Exhibition' have been collected by Tariq and his uncle during their travel to remote places on the fabled `carpet route'. While some are in excellent condition, quite a few have been restored to their original glory from a damaged state.
In typical motifs, regional variations of colour, myth and lore and in the brilliance of their craftsmanship, each carpet weaves a fascinating story. Not merely of a priceless heritage but of the journey of a carpet itself, and of how far it has come from adorning the tents and tables of princes and chiefs, to later being trodden upon as rags and cut up for upholstery and bedding, to today's treasured antiques, the damaged portions beautifully restored.
Incidentally, the oldest surviving carpet in the world is the celebrated 2000-year-old Pazyryk and the most exciting `antique' carpets date back no further than the 17th Century.
The Antique Carpet Exhibition has priceless pieces such as a stunning white Turkish carpet woven with the weaver's world view of distant mountains and huts nestling under trees in a field rich with flowers, birds and animals! There are flawless old Bokharas in typical geometric patterns, rust and brown Khazak carpets and, old Kilims and Kafkaz carpets and antique true-blue Persian rugs in rich jewel tones. And there is a spread of beautiful old Kashmiri carpets. Srinagar's noted carpet restorers Ishfaque and Ishaque demonstrate the `art restoration' process while working at their tiny loom. Working from the back of the carpet, the craftperson recreates on the loom the same knots as on the original `whole' carpet. The knots are put in with a needle. The original patterning is followed to the last detail and `stonewashed' to give antique colouring to the new patches, which have been worked in. Fringes are restored and even an old carpet that is partially damaged can be brought back to its original magnificence. This is the first time that restored antique carpets are being exhibited in Chennai.
The Antique Carpet Exhibition is on for a week at the Indo-Persian Rugs and Carpets, 432 T.T.K. Road, (ph:4337880).
PUSHPA CHARI
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