January, 2002 Volume 4.1
Philadelphia
Oriental Rug Society Newsletter
Beginning with a slide show illustrating some of
the techniques and methods used in cleaning and restoring Oriental carpets,
Robert Mann will continue on to a discussion of the current state of the art
and the question of conservation verses restoration. Mr. Mann owns Robert Mann
Oriental Rugs in Denver, Colorado. Established
in 1978, Robert Mann Oriental Rugs provides cleaning restoration services to
private clients, dealers and institutions throughout the United States. Participants may bring rugs needing
restoration, or that have been previously restored, for group examination and
discussion.
Directions:
From Center City: Take the
Schuylkill Expressway (76) West, bear right onto Route 1 North (Roosevelt
Blvd., North). Exit at Wissahickon Ave. (the first exit). Follow service road 300 feet and make a
right into parking lot. From Western Suburbs: Take the Schuyllkill Expressway East, to Route 1
North (Roosevelt Blvd., North). Then,
as above for Center City directions.
The Princeton Rug Society cordially invites PORS members to
a lecture on “Knotted Pile Carpets—Construction and Destruction,” on January 26th
at 2:30 PM at the Mercer Library in Lawrenceville, NJ. The focus of this
lecture will be on how to analyze weave structures. The library is on Business Route 1 and Darrah Lane, on the left,
on the corner.
CARPET SLAVES: A CONCERN FOR PURCHASERS OF NEW RUGS
A recent film "The
Carpet Slaves: Stolen Children of India" highlights that many
of the children who make Oriental rugs are not child laborers working for a
pittance, but bonded slaves, children kidnapped and forced to make rugs. This
disturbing film focuses on a father's search for his missing son who had been
kidnapped at the age of six five years earlier by a carpet slave master in the
Varanasi region of northeastern India. With the help of the South Asian
Coalition Against Child Servitude and the police, the father and the filmmakers
raid the rug-making operation. The slave master escapes but nineteen boys are successfully
freed. Among them is his son. The SACCS estimates that 300,000 other children
are carpet salves in that region despite the fact that slavery is illegal in
India. SACCS advocates estimate that the Varanasi region ships $140 million
worth of rugs to the United States, most of which are made by child slaves. The
film also mentions RUGMARK,
an association of carpet exporters in India, Nepal and Parkistan, and of U.S.
and European importers who provide consumers their best assurances that their
carpets are made without child labor. Each rug with a RUGMARK label can be
traced back to the loom on which it was made. In addition to tracing and loom
inspection activities RUGMARK fees also fund rehabilitation and education
programs for former child slaves. So far only 10 small U.S. rug importers have
joined RUGMARK. The industry as a whole has not yet embraced what RUGMARK is
trying to do.
On
Tuesday February 26th, noteworthy Philadelphia area rug dealer, Jerry Sorkin
will highlight features of antique and not so old rugs produced in Northern
Africa. In addition to sharing his expertise with us Jerry will treat PORS
members to a buffet that will add flavors in the spirit of the evening. We will
meet in his Wayne showroom. Details to follow in our next newsletter.
PORS
starts a Website:
(http://www.geocities.com/jbulyk/) Log on and let us know how you like it and
feel free to make suggestions as to how it can be more helpful to you. Our
thanks go to Jerry Bulyk for this fine initiative.
Time
to renew your PORS Membership. NOW!
Send $35 (individual) and $55 (couple). Make
your check payable to: Aron Fisher, Treasurer and send to: Samy Rabinovic, P.O.
Box 187, Newtown, PA 18940. Renewal form is below.
Regional
Rug Events
At the Textile Museum in Washington D.C. (www.textilemuseum.org)
some events of interest:
NEW
COLLECTORS' SERIES: "COLLECTING MOROCCAN AND ARMENIAN TEXTILES" Russell Pickering and James
Kesh, January 19th
10:30 am.
TEXTILE
APPRECIATION MORNING: "PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF FIBER ART,”
Annet
Couwenberg, January 26, 10:30 am.
RUG
APPRECIATION MORNING: “TRIBAL WEAVINGS FROM NORTHWEST PERSIA"
Wendel
Swan, February
2, 10:30 am.
RUG
APPRECIATION MORNING: "TURKMEN TREASURES" Jerry Thompson, February 9, 10:30 am.
MEMBERS'
GALLERY TALK: "TECHNOLOGY AS CATALYST: TEXTILE ARTISTS ON
THE
CUTTING EDGE,"
Rebecca A.T. Stevens, Consulting
Curator,
Contemporary Textiles.
February 16, 9:30 am --
Reservations required; limited to 35. The Public Walkthrough is at 11:00 am.
Name:
________________________ Address: _____________________
City:________________ State:_____________Zip:______________
Individual
$35 ( ) Couple $55 (
) Payable to: Aron Fisher,
Treas.
Mail to: Samy Rabinovic, P.O. Box 187, Newtown, PA 18940____