U.S. Newswire : Releases : "Afghan Ambassador's Wife Speaks in Evanston, Ill. on Jan. 19": "Afghan Ambassador's Wife Speaks in Evanston, Ill. on Jan. 19
1/13/2006 2:25:00 PM
Contact: Franco La Marca of Arzu, 312-804-4615 or fslamarca@aol.com
CHICAGO, Jan. 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Shamim Jawad, wife of His Excellency Said T. Jawad, Afghan ambassador to the United States, will speak at the opening night reception for Arzu's exhibit at the Minasian Rug Company in Evanston, Ill. Additional speaker includes Arzu's Founder and President Connie Duckworth. The ongoing exhibit celebrates the artistry of Afghan rug making.
A Chicago-based not-for-profit, Arzu's mission is to improve the lives of Afghan women, their families and communities, through the sourcing of handcrafted Afghan rugs.
The elegant reception will feature Arzu's rug collection on exhibit alongside photos of the Afghan women that wove them in hope of generating rug sales and donations to facilitate Arzu's cause. Guests will enjoy cocktails and assorted appetizers provided by Jewell Events Catering. The guest list of over 200 VIPs includes prominent members of Chicago's business, finance, diplomatic, and design communities. The reception promises to be a highlight of Chicago's winter social calendar. RSVPs are not required but advised, as space is limited.
Mrs. Jawad will be speaking on current changes in Afghan society as well as the positive impact the U.S. and Arzu have had on the lives of the destitute women and their families. Duckworth will emphasize the need for private sector investment by giving an overview of Arzu's mission, accomplishments, and current direction.
All Arzu rugs are woven on looms in the homes of the weavers. Each unique piece is hand-woven and made with natural dyes. They range from 3' x 5' to 8' x 14' with prices from $600 to $15,000. Each rug weaves a story, reflecting thoughts, experiences and emotions of the women weavers. The rugs have attracted the attention of prominent Chicago designer, Arzu rug owner and confirmed guest, Holly Hunt:
"These handmade rugs reflect a beauty not possible in machine made rugs. I appreciate the love, care and time these women put into making these rugs to support their families."
Event Details:
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 19, Reception 6:30 – 9 p.m.
WHERE: Minasian Rug Company, 1244 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, IL 60202
To RSVP, please contact Natalie Rulong: 312-321-8664
Minasian Rug Company Showroom Hours: Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
To view Arzu rugs by appointment, please contact Suzana Denovich, sales director, Arzu, Inc. at: 312-321-8675 or to view Arzu rugs online: http://www.arzurugs.org
Arzu, meaning "hope" in Dari, breaks the cycle of poverty by compensating the women weavers at 150 percent of the prevailing rate and by providing access to education and healthcare. Proceeds from the rug sales go directly to the Afghan Operations Program. Arzu, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization.
Business woman and social entrepreneur Connie Duckworth is an active member of the U.S.-Afghan Women's Council; a member of the Council on Foreign Relations initiative on women and foreign policy, and an advisory director of the Business Council for Peace. She is a retired partner and managing director of Goldman, Sachs, & Co., where she was named the first woman sales and trading partner in the firm's history during her 20 year career.
http://www.usnewswire.com/"
Friday, January 13, 2006
Monday, January 09, 2006
courant.com | The Ugly Side Of Those Beautiful Rugs
courant.com | The Ugly Side Of Those Beautiful Rugs: "NE MAGAZINE
The Ugly Side Of Those Beautiful Rugs
January 8, 2006
I was sitting at a lunch table at a multinational consumer conference when I first learned about Rugmark, an international organization that rescues children from slavery at the rug looms in India, Nepal and Pakistan. One story never left me: that of a 5-year-old boy who was stolen from his family when his parents refused to sell him for three dollars.
Child slavery and exploitation still constitute a huge portion of the labor force that creates those beautiful Oriental rugs that consumers love so much. According to the Rugmark Foundation, 300,000 children are illegally forced to work in the carpet industries of India, Nepal and Pakistan, the Big Three in hand-made Oriental carpets. These youngsters are valuable because their small fingers are perfect for the tedious work of hand-knotting.
ADVERTISEMENT
To be clear, we're not talking about all child labor, such as children helping out on a family farm while still attending school. We are talking about exploitive labor, where children are actually enslaved or are forced to work 12 to 16 hours a day in sweatshop conditions and paid so little they can barely buy a bowl of food for dinner. These are children who are abused, who sleep on the floor next to their looms and have no hope of ever getting out unless they get sick, die or are sold for sexual exploitation.
Since 1995, the Washington-based Rugmark Foundation has rescued 3,000 of these children and, with their families' permission (if there is a family), brought them into Rugmark boarding schools where they get safe housing, food and an education.Rugmark has prevented enslavement of thousands more through inspection, legislation and publicity.
It hasn't come easily.
After Iran banned children from rug-making in the 1970s, (yes, Iran), production moved to South Asia where the labor force was comprised largely of children, some as young as 5. Some of these kids are sold for a few dollars by parents desperate to keep the rest of the family alive. Others are simply ensnared by poverty. Once in, they can't get out because they are paid almost nothing or because the loom owners claim the kids owe them "debts" and therefore any "pay" is retained. Such practices are banned by the United Nations and the International Labor Office and considered slavery.
The Rugmark Foundation works by rescuing these children and by certifying loom owners who use no child labor and permitting them to attach the RUGMARK label to their products. The foundation makes both announced and unannounced inspections. The RUGMARK label, a smiling cartoon face against a carpet background, bears a certification number that can be traced back to the loom where the rug was made to prevent misuse. The foundation has no police authority. Its strength comes from consumer awareness and action: Buyers can help stop illegal child labor by purchasing only RUGMARK certified carpets or those approved by other oversight organizations.
This human tragedy is nowhere near resolution. According to Nina Smith, executive director of the foundation, Rugmark certifies only 1 percent of the $1.2 billion worth of Oriental rugs sold annually in the United States, about half of them coming from the Big Three. There are 30 U.S. import companies selling RUGMARK certified carpets to 800 retailers around the country.
Rugmark hopes to increase its share of certified carpets to 15 percent within the next decade through a consumer awareness program. "We believe that this level of market penetration could completely eliminate exploitative child labor in the rug industries of India, Nepal and Pakistan," Smith said.
But the system can't work without the commitment of the importers and retailers. They make the decision whether to deal in illegal labor-free rugs - or to close their eyes. One importer, Emma Gardner Design LLC. in Litchfield, has made that commitment. As a licensee of the Rugmark Foundation, Emma Gardner deals only in certified, child labor-free carpets. Its sole Connecticut retailer is Cobble Court in Litchfield.
Company president Patrick McDarrah is passionate about the subject. He says, "The biggest problem," he says, "is dealer apathy. Sitting in between manufacturers and consumers, they could really make a difference."
I made random calls to some of the large Oriental carpet retailers around the state to learn whether they deal in RUGMARK certified carpets. Beside Cobble Court, the only other one is Circa 2000 in Westport (supplied by New Moon). No one from Kaoud's returned my calls, and Mike Norman of Pasha's Rugs in West Hartford declined to discuss the matter.
John Kebabian, Jr., owner of Kebabian's in New Haven, says he insures against illegal child labor by maintaining his own group of home weavers. This doesn't mean he uses no child labor, just no illegal child labor. He says any children working on his rugs are doing so in their own homes and under the supervision of their parents, not in sweatshops.
But he paints a bleak picture in India. "I've seen traders in New Delhi with huge warehouses filled with junk. They don't care who made them. The rugs [are shipped here] and sold at phony going-out-of-business sales, auctions, and fraternal halls and estate sales. [And some] retailers set an artificially high price and then discount it, and the buyers think they're getting a bargain."
So, if carpets don't have the Rugmark or other oversight organizations' certification, how does the consumer know if they were made with illegal child labor? "The consumer can't know because the dealers don't know. Most of their rugs are consigned. They can't even tell you where they came from," says Kebabian.
Joe Namnoun, owner of J. Namnoun's Oriental Rug Gallery in Hartford, says he protects against illegal child labor by dealing in only high-end rugs, $50 a square foot and up. "The higher up the food chain you go, the less child labor you have. These are sophisticated, controlled designs and you don't see child labor there."
To avoid the cheaper carpets that are more likely to be made by children, Namnoun also warns against ridiculously high percent-off sales. "Does anyone really believe that you're going to get a $10,000 rug for $3,000?" adding that retailers who advertise this way often keep those same sale signs on for long periods. "They're not really sales and you're usually getting low-end, low-quality products."
Not all dealers support attempts to end child labor. Armen Proudian, owner of A T Proudian, Inc. of Greenwich, believes we should leave well enough alone. He says he doesn't "belong or subscribe to any of these [oversight] organizations." Now he deals mostly in antique rugs but concedes, "At one time, we were direct importers and of course we used child labor. Were these kids underage? Hell, yes. Were they underpaid? Hell, yes. But did we pay them according to their standards? Hell, yes, and that meant they could eat.
"You don't want to get a flat tire in one of these places because about eight kids will come and fight to the death to change the tire. You can yell about child labor and have the kids starve to death or allow them to work and survive." Proudian dismisses "pompous ass" politicians who "try to impose our standards on people barely able to survive."
"I'm not talking about slavery," he said. "My partners, who are Pakistani, make sure they get paid so they can eat."
Smith disagrees. "This just keeps them in the cycle of poverty." She emphasizes that Rugmark is not shutting down looms, but rather providing an alternative to exploitative child labor that keeps these kids in misery, often for a lifetime.
Says McDarrah, "... we all know that, label or not, (the) issue is who made the rugs and that it is not acceptable to support child labor. We are hoping that our industry can get to where apparel is now, after the Nike and other scandals of the too recent past... the point is not, `yes we know they are under aged and underpaid but it's OK because that's the way it is over there.' It is that exploitation is always wrong."
"Retailers, manufacturers and consumers who choose to ignore the facts have blood on their hands," McDarrah said.
The University of Connecticut's Human Rights Institute has the only UNESCO Chair in Human Rights in the USA. Visit www.humanrights.uconn.edu
June Sandra Neal is a freelance writer in West Hartford. She was director of communications and consumer education for the state Department of Consumer Protection for 23 years."
The Ugly Side Of Those Beautiful Rugs
January 8, 2006
I was sitting at a lunch table at a multinational consumer conference when I first learned about Rugmark, an international organization that rescues children from slavery at the rug looms in India, Nepal and Pakistan. One story never left me: that of a 5-year-old boy who was stolen from his family when his parents refused to sell him for three dollars.
Child slavery and exploitation still constitute a huge portion of the labor force that creates those beautiful Oriental rugs that consumers love so much. According to the Rugmark Foundation, 300,000 children are illegally forced to work in the carpet industries of India, Nepal and Pakistan, the Big Three in hand-made Oriental carpets. These youngsters are valuable because their small fingers are perfect for the tedious work of hand-knotting.
ADVERTISEMENT
To be clear, we're not talking about all child labor, such as children helping out on a family farm while still attending school. We are talking about exploitive labor, where children are actually enslaved or are forced to work 12 to 16 hours a day in sweatshop conditions and paid so little they can barely buy a bowl of food for dinner. These are children who are abused, who sleep on the floor next to their looms and have no hope of ever getting out unless they get sick, die or are sold for sexual exploitation.
Since 1995, the Washington-based Rugmark Foundation has rescued 3,000 of these children and, with their families' permission (if there is a family), brought them into Rugmark boarding schools where they get safe housing, food and an education.Rugmark has prevented enslavement of thousands more through inspection, legislation and publicity.
It hasn't come easily.
After Iran banned children from rug-making in the 1970s, (yes, Iran), production moved to South Asia where the labor force was comprised largely of children, some as young as 5. Some of these kids are sold for a few dollars by parents desperate to keep the rest of the family alive. Others are simply ensnared by poverty. Once in, they can't get out because they are paid almost nothing or because the loom owners claim the kids owe them "debts" and therefore any "pay" is retained. Such practices are banned by the United Nations and the International Labor Office and considered slavery.
The Rugmark Foundation works by rescuing these children and by certifying loom owners who use no child labor and permitting them to attach the RUGMARK label to their products. The foundation makes both announced and unannounced inspections. The RUGMARK label, a smiling cartoon face against a carpet background, bears a certification number that can be traced back to the loom where the rug was made to prevent misuse. The foundation has no police authority. Its strength comes from consumer awareness and action: Buyers can help stop illegal child labor by purchasing only RUGMARK certified carpets or those approved by other oversight organizations.
This human tragedy is nowhere near resolution. According to Nina Smith, executive director of the foundation, Rugmark certifies only 1 percent of the $1.2 billion worth of Oriental rugs sold annually in the United States, about half of them coming from the Big Three. There are 30 U.S. import companies selling RUGMARK certified carpets to 800 retailers around the country.
Rugmark hopes to increase its share of certified carpets to 15 percent within the next decade through a consumer awareness program. "We believe that this level of market penetration could completely eliminate exploitative child labor in the rug industries of India, Nepal and Pakistan," Smith said.
But the system can't work without the commitment of the importers and retailers. They make the decision whether to deal in illegal labor-free rugs - or to close their eyes. One importer, Emma Gardner Design LLC. in Litchfield, has made that commitment. As a licensee of the Rugmark Foundation, Emma Gardner deals only in certified, child labor-free carpets. Its sole Connecticut retailer is Cobble Court in Litchfield.
Company president Patrick McDarrah is passionate about the subject. He says, "The biggest problem," he says, "is dealer apathy. Sitting in between manufacturers and consumers, they could really make a difference."
I made random calls to some of the large Oriental carpet retailers around the state to learn whether they deal in RUGMARK certified carpets. Beside Cobble Court, the only other one is Circa 2000 in Westport (supplied by New Moon). No one from Kaoud's returned my calls, and Mike Norman of Pasha's Rugs in West Hartford declined to discuss the matter.
John Kebabian, Jr., owner of Kebabian's in New Haven, says he insures against illegal child labor by maintaining his own group of home weavers. This doesn't mean he uses no child labor, just no illegal child labor. He says any children working on his rugs are doing so in their own homes and under the supervision of their parents, not in sweatshops.
But he paints a bleak picture in India. "I've seen traders in New Delhi with huge warehouses filled with junk. They don't care who made them. The rugs [are shipped here] and sold at phony going-out-of-business sales, auctions, and fraternal halls and estate sales. [And some] retailers set an artificially high price and then discount it, and the buyers think they're getting a bargain."
So, if carpets don't have the Rugmark or other oversight organizations' certification, how does the consumer know if they were made with illegal child labor? "The consumer can't know because the dealers don't know. Most of their rugs are consigned. They can't even tell you where they came from," says Kebabian.
Joe Namnoun, owner of J. Namnoun's Oriental Rug Gallery in Hartford, says he protects against illegal child labor by dealing in only high-end rugs, $50 a square foot and up. "The higher up the food chain you go, the less child labor you have. These are sophisticated, controlled designs and you don't see child labor there."
To avoid the cheaper carpets that are more likely to be made by children, Namnoun also warns against ridiculously high percent-off sales. "Does anyone really believe that you're going to get a $10,000 rug for $3,000?" adding that retailers who advertise this way often keep those same sale signs on for long periods. "They're not really sales and you're usually getting low-end, low-quality products."
Not all dealers support attempts to end child labor. Armen Proudian, owner of A T Proudian, Inc. of Greenwich, believes we should leave well enough alone. He says he doesn't "belong or subscribe to any of these [oversight] organizations." Now he deals mostly in antique rugs but concedes, "At one time, we were direct importers and of course we used child labor. Were these kids underage? Hell, yes. Were they underpaid? Hell, yes. But did we pay them according to their standards? Hell, yes, and that meant they could eat.
"You don't want to get a flat tire in one of these places because about eight kids will come and fight to the death to change the tire. You can yell about child labor and have the kids starve to death or allow them to work and survive." Proudian dismisses "pompous ass" politicians who "try to impose our standards on people barely able to survive."
"I'm not talking about slavery," he said. "My partners, who are Pakistani, make sure they get paid so they can eat."
Smith disagrees. "This just keeps them in the cycle of poverty." She emphasizes that Rugmark is not shutting down looms, but rather providing an alternative to exploitative child labor that keeps these kids in misery, often for a lifetime.
Says McDarrah, "... we all know that, label or not, (the) issue is who made the rugs and that it is not acceptable to support child labor. We are hoping that our industry can get to where apparel is now, after the Nike and other scandals of the too recent past... the point is not, `yes we know they are under aged and underpaid but it's OK because that's the way it is over there.' It is that exploitation is always wrong."
"Retailers, manufacturers and consumers who choose to ignore the facts have blood on their hands," McDarrah said.
The University of Connecticut's Human Rights Institute has the only UNESCO Chair in Human Rights in the USA. Visit www.humanrights.uconn.edu
June Sandra Neal is a freelance writer in West Hartford. She was director of communications and consumer education for the state Department of Consumer Protection for 23 years."
Thousands Visited Rug Exhibition in Tehran - Persian Journal Latest Iran news & Iranian Newspaper
Thousands Visited Rug Exhibition in Tehran - Persian Journal Latest Iran news & Iranian Newspaper: "Culture Jan 8th, 2006 - 19:49:25
Page One > Culture
Thousands Visited Rug Exhibition in Tehran
Jan 8, 2006
More than 15,000 individuals visited the exhibition of invaluable Persian carpets which was held in Saad Abad Palace Complex from 28th of December to 7th of January.
"Because of the cultural significance of the museums, they are best places for holding such exhibitions. We exhibited some invaluable and unique carpets woven by master Iranian artists in Saad Abad Complex. Once there used to be even some carpet workshops in this complex which showed how rugs are woven. We should teach today's generation to continue the art of their ancestors," said Mohammad Abdolalipour, manager of Saad Abad historical-cultural complex.
According to Abdolalipour, exclusion of carpet exhibitions from the programs of museums and cultural centers has resulted in considering them as means of trade rather than looking at carpets as beautiful pieces of art, while both aspects should be taken into account. Thus, we must do our best to bring carpets into the museums and make people look at them as pieces of art rather than pure financial assets.
The manager of Saad Abad complex also expressed his satisfaction of the attendance of a more specialized team during this exhibition compared to last year's exhibition, and expressed hope for an even more specialized one for next year.
Persian carpets are the most exquisite form of art, inherited from generation to generation in Iran. Persian carpets enjoy a special reputation in the world. Perhaps the most important time in the history of Persian carpets came when the Safavid kings were ruling over Persia (1499-1722 AD). Indeed, the first concrete proofs of this craft dates back to this period. During the reign of Shah Abbas, the Safavid king (1571-1629), commerce and crafts prospered in Persia. Shah Abbas encouraged contacts and trades with Europe and transformed his new capital city which was Isfahan back then, into one of the most glorious cities of Persia. He also created a court workshop for carpets where skilled designers and craftsmen set to work to create splendid specimens.
Most of these carpets were made of silk, with gold and silver threads adding even more embellishments.
Today, approximately 1500 examples of unique Persian carpets are preserved in various museums and in private collections worldwide."
Page One > Culture
Thousands Visited Rug Exhibition in Tehran
Jan 8, 2006
More than 15,000 individuals visited the exhibition of invaluable Persian carpets which was held in Saad Abad Palace Complex from 28th of December to 7th of January.
"Because of the cultural significance of the museums, they are best places for holding such exhibitions. We exhibited some invaluable and unique carpets woven by master Iranian artists in Saad Abad Complex. Once there used to be even some carpet workshops in this complex which showed how rugs are woven. We should teach today's generation to continue the art of their ancestors," said Mohammad Abdolalipour, manager of Saad Abad historical-cultural complex.
According to Abdolalipour, exclusion of carpet exhibitions from the programs of museums and cultural centers has resulted in considering them as means of trade rather than looking at carpets as beautiful pieces of art, while both aspects should be taken into account. Thus, we must do our best to bring carpets into the museums and make people look at them as pieces of art rather than pure financial assets.
The manager of Saad Abad complex also expressed his satisfaction of the attendance of a more specialized team during this exhibition compared to last year's exhibition, and expressed hope for an even more specialized one for next year.
Persian carpets are the most exquisite form of art, inherited from generation to generation in Iran. Persian carpets enjoy a special reputation in the world. Perhaps the most important time in the history of Persian carpets came when the Safavid kings were ruling over Persia (1499-1722 AD). Indeed, the first concrete proofs of this craft dates back to this period. During the reign of Shah Abbas, the Safavid king (1571-1629), commerce and crafts prospered in Persia. Shah Abbas encouraged contacts and trades with Europe and transformed his new capital city which was Isfahan back then, into one of the most glorious cities of Persia. He also created a court workshop for carpets where skilled designers and craftsmen set to work to create splendid specimens.
Most of these carpets were made of silk, with gold and silver threads adding even more embellishments.
Today, approximately 1500 examples of unique Persian carpets are preserved in various museums and in private collections worldwide."
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Guidelines for how Iran must treat Armenian Christians
Iran Trade Point -: " iv. In the Magazine ‘Al Hukam’ Vol. II No. 47 of 1906, there appeared an article saying that the Russians in 1905 found an order of Hazrath Ali, in his own hand-writing which was in Koofi script. This was found in a monastry of Ardabail, cief town of Azer Baijaan. This letter was an amnesty deed to the monastry and the Christians of Ardabail. Translation of this deed appeared in the Russian newspapers and thence it was translated in the Turkish papers and in the Arabic Magazines of Cairo and Bairuth, and lots of commentating articles on the spirit of toleration and the treatment of conquered by Islam were written by the Russians and Arab Christians. Apparently from the Magazine Hablul Mateen it was translated by the Al Hukam.
In this deed Hazrath says that as a caliph and a ruler, he promises safety and security of life, property, honour, social status and religious freedom of Armanian Christians. This order should be obeyed by his officers and by his successors. The Christians should not be maltreated or looked down because they are non-Muslims. So long as they do not try to betray and injure the cause of the state or Islam they should not be molested and should be allowed to practice their religion and trades freely and openly. Islam teaches us to carry a message of peace with us and improve the status of society wherever we go and the best way to achieve this is to create amity, friendliness and concord between human-beings; therefor, Muslims should try to develop friendship of these people and should never resort to wrong use of power, force and arrogance. They should not be over-taxed, should not be humiliated and should not be forced out of their homes, lands and trades. Their priests should be treated with due respects, their monastries should be protected, they should be allowed to carry on their lectures, teachings and preachings as usual their religious ceremonies should not be prohibited. If they want to build their places of worship then fallow and ownerless lands should be allotted to them. One, who disobeys this order is fallow and ownerless lands should be allotted to them. One, who disobeys this order is going against the orders of God and the Holy prophet (A.S.) and will deserve His Wrath."
In this deed Hazrath says that as a caliph and a ruler, he promises safety and security of life, property, honour, social status and religious freedom of Armanian Christians. This order should be obeyed by his officers and by his successors. The Christians should not be maltreated or looked down because they are non-Muslims. So long as they do not try to betray and injure the cause of the state or Islam they should not be molested and should be allowed to practice their religion and trades freely and openly. Islam teaches us to carry a message of peace with us and improve the status of society wherever we go and the best way to achieve this is to create amity, friendliness and concord between human-beings; therefor, Muslims should try to develop friendship of these people and should never resort to wrong use of power, force and arrogance. They should not be over-taxed, should not be humiliated and should not be forced out of their homes, lands and trades. Their priests should be treated with due respects, their monastries should be protected, they should be allowed to carry on their lectures, teachings and preachings as usual their religious ceremonies should not be prohibited. If they want to build their places of worship then fallow and ownerless lands should be allotted to them. One, who disobeys this order is fallow and ownerless lands should be allotted to them. One, who disobeys this order is going against the orders of God and the Holy prophet (A.S.) and will deserve His Wrath."
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Zanjan’s Qajari Buildings Attract More Tourists
Iran Daily - Arts & Culture - 08/25/05: "Zanjan’s Qajari Buildings Attract More Tourists
Farzaneh Shokri
Historical buildings from the Qajar era have become the main attraction for tourists visiting the western province of Zanjan.
Zanjan’s old marketplace (Bazaar), Zolfaqari Palace, Jame’ Seyed Mosque, Lady (Khanom) Mosque, Mir Bahaeddin Bridge, Sardar Bridge are among the examples of Qajar architecture in the city.
Though several ancient buildings are threatened with destruction, the splendor of the ancient architecture has won the admiration of every visitor.
The construction of the traditional marketplace (Bazaar) began in 1834 under the Qajari king, Agha Mohammad Khan and ended under Fath-Ali Shah Qajar.
Several mosques, guesthouses and public baths were added to the compound in 1945.
The marketplace is built in a straight line--upward and downward--and divided into the eastern and western wings.
Corridors separate the areas according to craftsmanship. For example, the sections reserved for goldsmiths, cloth merchant, hat makers, tinsmith and other crafts are separate from each other.
There are five ancient mosques--Chehelsotoon (40 pillars), Agha Seyed Fathollah, Hojjatoleslam, Jame’ Mosque and Molla Mosque--which have added to the splendid architecture of Zanjan’s marketplace.
An Iran Daily reporter visiting the city cited Zolfaqari Palace as another heritage of Qajar architecture which contributed to the historical identity of Zanjan.
The palace has interior and exterior departments which include administrative sections. It was built in Qajar era before the construction of Zolfaqari Street (modern Taleqani).
Sections of the palace are currently in ruins. Of course, the exterior part of the building remained durable. Zolfaqari Palace was built in two stories. The underground part of the building has water storage facilities and the entire design is based on European Gothic architecture.
Zolfaqari Palace was built in the late Qajar era.
Jame’ Seyed Mosque, which is situated in the heart of the city, is yet another edifice of cultural heritage. It is linked to Qeisarieh market from the west, to an alley from the east to Imam Street from north and Sabze Meidan from south.
Prior to the construction of the modern Imam Street, the Mosque was linked to a square in front of Darol-Hokoumeh (Administrative Building).
The mosque was built by Mirza, the eleventh son of Fath Ali Shah of Qajar when he was the governor of Zanjan.
Lady (Khanom) Mosque was also constructed during the Qajar reign. It is located at Fakhim-oddoleh on present-day Imam Street. It has interesting interior decorations of tiles and brick works.
It has a minaret for Azan (call to prayers at mosque three times a day). There is spiral stairway through which the muezzin, the person who calls people to prayers, goes up to the minaret.
The mosque enjoys unique interior decoration.
Another historical structure, Mir Bahaeddin Bridge, called Pol-e Kohneh (old bridge), was built in the southern part of Zanjan over Zanjan-Roud (river). It has helped villages living on the other side of the river have access to Zanjan.
It is 100 meter long, 6.7 meters wide and 12 high from the surface of the river.
Of course, modern bridge has been built linking Zanjan to cities in Kurdestan province.
Pol-e-Kohneh has decorative arches and was built under Nasser-eddin Shah of Qajar.
In addition Zanjan also boasts of the famous Soltanieh Dome, a cultural heritage structure in the suburbs of Zanjan, which is on UNESCO’s global heritage list."
Farzaneh Shokri
Historical buildings from the Qajar era have become the main attraction for tourists visiting the western province of Zanjan.
Zanjan’s old marketplace (Bazaar), Zolfaqari Palace, Jame’ Seyed Mosque, Lady (Khanom) Mosque, Mir Bahaeddin Bridge, Sardar Bridge are among the examples of Qajar architecture in the city.
Though several ancient buildings are threatened with destruction, the splendor of the ancient architecture has won the admiration of every visitor.
The construction of the traditional marketplace (Bazaar) began in 1834 under the Qajari king, Agha Mohammad Khan and ended under Fath-Ali Shah Qajar.
Several mosques, guesthouses and public baths were added to the compound in 1945.
The marketplace is built in a straight line--upward and downward--and divided into the eastern and western wings.
Persian Rugs: Guide To Zanjan Rugs
Corridors separate the areas according to craftsmanship. For example, the sections reserved for goldsmiths, cloth merchant, hat makers, tinsmith and other crafts are separate from each other.
There are five ancient mosques--Chehelsotoon (40 pillars), Agha Seyed Fathollah, Hojjatoleslam, Jame’ Mosque and Molla Mosque--which have added to the splendid architecture of Zanjan’s marketplace.
An Iran Daily reporter visiting the city cited Zolfaqari Palace as another heritage of Qajar architecture which contributed to the historical identity of Zanjan.
The palace has interior and exterior departments which include administrative sections. It was built in Qajar era before the construction of Zolfaqari Street (modern Taleqani).
Sections of the palace are currently in ruins. Of course, the exterior part of the building remained durable. Zolfaqari Palace was built in two stories. The underground part of the building has water storage facilities and the entire design is based on European Gothic architecture.
Zolfaqari Palace was built in the late Qajar era.
Jame’ Seyed Mosque, which is situated in the heart of the city, is yet another edifice of cultural heritage. It is linked to Qeisarieh market from the west, to an alley from the east to Imam Street from north and Sabze Meidan from south.
Prior to the construction of the modern Imam Street, the Mosque was linked to a square in front of Darol-Hokoumeh (Administrative Building).
The mosque was built by Mirza, the eleventh son of Fath Ali Shah of Qajar when he was the governor of Zanjan.
Lady (Khanom) Mosque was also constructed during the Qajar reign. It is located at Fakhim-oddoleh on present-day Imam Street. It has interesting interior decorations of tiles and brick works.
It has a minaret for Azan (call to prayers at mosque three times a day). There is spiral stairway through which the muezzin, the person who calls people to prayers, goes up to the minaret.
The mosque enjoys unique interior decoration.
Another historical structure, Mir Bahaeddin Bridge, called Pol-e Kohneh (old bridge), was built in the southern part of Zanjan over Zanjan-Roud (river). It has helped villages living on the other side of the river have access to Zanjan.
It is 100 meter long, 6.7 meters wide and 12 high from the surface of the river.
Of course, modern bridge has been built linking Zanjan to cities in Kurdestan province.
Pol-e-Kohneh has decorative arches and was built under Nasser-eddin Shah of Qajar.
In addition Zanjan also boasts of the famous Soltanieh Dome, a cultural heritage structure in the suburbs of Zanjan, which is on UNESCO’s global heritage list."
UAE: Dubai Shopping Festival host Carpet Oasis - Textile - Business News - Textile News
UAE: Dubai Shopping Festival host Carpet Oasis - Textile - Business News - Textile News: "UAE: Dubai Shopping Festival host Carpet Oasis
ABU DHABI: Carpet Oasis, a unique international exhibition introduced ten years ago, will display over 150000 masterpieces of hand woven carpets, rugs and traditional souvenirs at Dubai Shopping Festival, as said to sources on January 03.
Further event comprise of a rare, unique and expensive carpets made from exquisite materials that date back hundreds of years.
Carpets on display are a collection from different countries best known for their carpets.
Famous Persian carpets from Isfahan, Qumm, Na`een, Hamdan and Tabreez, and also Turkish 'Hariki' carpets along with those from various regions of Afghanistan, India and Pakistan, can all be found here.
Since its inception in 1996, the sales figures of the Oasis have been rising sharply, year after year. Absence of taxes on direct sales and on re-export operations provides the traders and merchants with respectable bargains."
ABU DHABI: Carpet Oasis, a unique international exhibition introduced ten years ago, will display over 150000 masterpieces of hand woven carpets, rugs and traditional souvenirs at Dubai Shopping Festival, as said to sources on January 03.
Further event comprise of a rare, unique and expensive carpets made from exquisite materials that date back hundreds of years.
Carpets on display are a collection from different countries best known for their carpets.
Famous Persian carpets from Isfahan, Qumm, Na`een, Hamdan and Tabreez, and also Turkish 'Hariki' carpets along with those from various regions of Afghanistan, India and Pakistan, can all be found here.
Since its inception in 1996, the sales figures of the Oasis have been rising sharply, year after year. Absence of taxes on direct sales and on re-export operations provides the traders and merchants with respectable bargains."
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
english.eastday.com
english.eastday.com: "Perfecting Persian style
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28/12/2005 9:53
Yang Di/Shanghai Daily
In every Persian carpet, there is a world of artistic magnificence that has been nurtured for more than 2,500 years. The best way to experience this world is to drop in to a place like Mortazavy, where luxurious Persian carpets of numerous patterns and styles can be found alongside the less elegant country rugs which also possess amazing workmanship.
Lynn Yekiazarian from England, 51, opened the 175-square-meter shop two months ago on the arty Shaoxing Road, which has a calm and relaxed atmosphere, one of the things Yekiazarian likes so much about Shanghai.
Yekiazarian has been an informal seller of Persian carpets for the five years she has lived here. Over that time, Yekiazarian has had the pleasure of meeting, advising and helping people complement their homes with this art form.
"Finally, I started looking for a shop and decided to take the plunge," Yekiazarian said. Her gallery-like store has more than a hundred different carpets, all of which she picked personally from Iran.
"Persian carpets are renowned for their richness of color, variety of patterns and quality of designs. I really love them," Yekiazarian said.
Yekiazarian's fascination with Persian carpets dates back to mid-1970s. Her husband is Iranian and the couple lived there for three years just after they were married.
As expat wives tend to do, Yekiazarian spent days and days wandering the carpet bazaar, fascinated by the different designs and techniques. She grew to love carpets and, of course, collected dozens of different items.
"In Iran, carpets are part of the lifestyle. Everyone has them," she said. "People also see it a form of investment because fine Persian carpets maintain their value and appreciate over time. It's comforting to know that, this year alone, prices in Iran have increased by 30 percent."
Within two months, the 20 carpets she stocked were sold out. While some rugs are undoubtedly luxury items, such as a wool and silk carpet from Tabriz in northwestern Iran priced more than 169,000 yuan (US$20,864.20), most are placed within a reasonable price range, especially when you consider the fact that they'll still be around in 50 years.
"Most people bought the carpets to decorate their home. It is a bit like having a piece of art for your floor," she said.
The Iranians were among the first, ancient carpet weavers and, through centuries of creativity and ingenuity, building upon the talents of their past, Iranians achieved a unique style and a widely respected talent in the art.
Towards the end of the 19th century, carpet making flourished once more with Tabriz merchants exporting carpets to Europe through Istanbul. Some European and American companies even set up businesses in Persia and organized craft production destined for Western markets.
Today, carpet weaving is by far the most widespread handicraft in Iran and is seen as a national industry.
The city carpets are very good quality, finely knotted and made of strong lustrous wool or silk. The usual city carpet design is a medallion surrounded by flowers and tendrils. However, some carpets are designed with repeating patterns.
Tribal history
Indeed, many of the most common motifs were developed in the 16th century, in the region of Shah Abbas, the Safavid King, who commissioned carpets especially for his palaces in Isfahan. The new motifs included palmettes and curvilinear patterns based on garden plants and flowers - stylized rather than natural.
These patterns are most commonly found in carpets made in the city weaving centers, although each place has its own style. The best known workshops are in Tabriz, Isfahan, Nain, Gom, Mashad, Kerman and Kashan.
City weavers usually make finely knotted Persian carpets, while nomads make coarsely knotted ones. The tribal carpets were probably first made by nomads to cover the earthen floor in their tents.
Tribal carpets, Gabehs, Bakhtiars and Baluches, to name but a few, are always woven in wool. They are also less fine than the city carpets because the thicker wool means fewer knots per square inch. Motifs also take on a more rural tinge with birds, trees and antelopes commonly depicted.
"I like some of the old tribal pieces because they are naturally dyed and when they are old, the colors mellow, which are very warm and rich. And the tribal designs are very individual because nomads don't write down the patterns," Yekiazarian said.
"Small flashes of green may mysteriously appear where the pattern suggests blue. For me, this variation is part of the charm," she added.
"I am not trying to get rich through selling carpets. I like to talk to and educate people who come to our store and who really appreciate these art pieces."
Address: No. 19 Shaoxing Road
Tel: 6467 3556"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28/12/2005 9:53
Yang Di/Shanghai Daily
In every Persian carpet, there is a world of artistic magnificence that has been nurtured for more than 2,500 years. The best way to experience this world is to drop in to a place like Mortazavy, where luxurious Persian carpets of numerous patterns and styles can be found alongside the less elegant country rugs which also possess amazing workmanship.
Lynn Yekiazarian from England, 51, opened the 175-square-meter shop two months ago on the arty Shaoxing Road, which has a calm and relaxed atmosphere, one of the things Yekiazarian likes so much about Shanghai.
Yekiazarian has been an informal seller of Persian carpets for the five years she has lived here. Over that time, Yekiazarian has had the pleasure of meeting, advising and helping people complement their homes with this art form.
"Finally, I started looking for a shop and decided to take the plunge," Yekiazarian said. Her gallery-like store has more than a hundred different carpets, all of which she picked personally from Iran.
"Persian carpets are renowned for their richness of color, variety of patterns and quality of designs. I really love them," Yekiazarian said.
Yekiazarian's fascination with Persian carpets dates back to mid-1970s. Her husband is Iranian and the couple lived there for three years just after they were married.
As expat wives tend to do, Yekiazarian spent days and days wandering the carpet bazaar, fascinated by the different designs and techniques. She grew to love carpets and, of course, collected dozens of different items.
"In Iran, carpets are part of the lifestyle. Everyone has them," she said. "People also see it a form of investment because fine Persian carpets maintain their value and appreciate over time. It's comforting to know that, this year alone, prices in Iran have increased by 30 percent."
Within two months, the 20 carpets she stocked were sold out. While some rugs are undoubtedly luxury items, such as a wool and silk carpet from Tabriz in northwestern Iran priced more than 169,000 yuan (US$20,864.20), most are placed within a reasonable price range, especially when you consider the fact that they'll still be around in 50 years.
"Most people bought the carpets to decorate their home. It is a bit like having a piece of art for your floor," she said.
The Iranians were among the first, ancient carpet weavers and, through centuries of creativity and ingenuity, building upon the talents of their past, Iranians achieved a unique style and a widely respected talent in the art.
Towards the end of the 19th century, carpet making flourished once more with Tabriz merchants exporting carpets to Europe through Istanbul. Some European and American companies even set up businesses in Persia and organized craft production destined for Western markets.
Today, carpet weaving is by far the most widespread handicraft in Iran and is seen as a national industry.
The city carpets are very good quality, finely knotted and made of strong lustrous wool or silk. The usual city carpet design is a medallion surrounded by flowers and tendrils. However, some carpets are designed with repeating patterns.
Tribal history
Indeed, many of the most common motifs were developed in the 16th century, in the region of Shah Abbas, the Safavid King, who commissioned carpets especially for his palaces in Isfahan. The new motifs included palmettes and curvilinear patterns based on garden plants and flowers - stylized rather than natural.
These patterns are most commonly found in carpets made in the city weaving centers, although each place has its own style. The best known workshops are in Tabriz, Isfahan, Nain, Gom, Mashad, Kerman and Kashan.
City weavers usually make finely knotted Persian carpets, while nomads make coarsely knotted ones. The tribal carpets were probably first made by nomads to cover the earthen floor in their tents.
Tribal carpets, Gabehs, Bakhtiars and Baluches, to name but a few, are always woven in wool. They are also less fine than the city carpets because the thicker wool means fewer knots per square inch. Motifs also take on a more rural tinge with birds, trees and antelopes commonly depicted.
"I like some of the old tribal pieces because they are naturally dyed and when they are old, the colors mellow, which are very warm and rich. And the tribal designs are very individual because nomads don't write down the patterns," Yekiazarian said.
"Small flashes of green may mysteriously appear where the pattern suggests blue. For me, this variation is part of the charm," she added.
"I am not trying to get rich through selling carpets. I like to talk to and educate people who come to our store and who really appreciate these art pieces."
Address: No. 19 Shaoxing Road
Tel: 6467 3556"
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