Eclectic and Earthy in NYC

Loving on this eclectic and down to earth space from our recent install in a NYC apartment.

The feel is clean, modern, and minimal with natural textures and reflective surfaces juxtaposing dark accents and plush fabrics.

There’s something about the way that Chinese Deco carpets pair with crushed velvet couches that has a sophisticated air about it. The soft warm tones and minimal dark accents of the rug make it a perfect fit for this room. 

Love the look? Here’s some comparables for you to swoon over. 

Let us know if you love one enough to try it at home!

The Whiteley, London | Kelly Behun Studio

As seen in Wallpaper Magazine, Kelly Behun was asked to design the first model residence at The Whiteley – housed in a historic former department store near Hyde Park, London – and reimagined by Foster + Partners Architects into a project comprised of 139 apartments as well as a Six Senses hotel & spa; all a short walk from Hyde Park.

Kelly used Chinese carpets in a few of the spaces – the perfect accompaniment to her punchy and eclectic style. Bold color and reflective surfaces juxtapose soft tones and subtle textures for a cohesive space which communicates harmony through contrast.

The moody sophistication of color rich spaces connect with the peacefully cultured opposition of the living areas - a yin and yang of energies for work and life. Richly subdued colors in the artwork, the accents, and the carpets bridge the two vibes.

Ready to get bold in your home? Here’s a whole pile of comparables for you to bring that Kelly Behun look to your floor.

Contact us when you’re ready. ;)

Antique Rugs of China: Art Deco

The term Art Deco refers to the style launched at the 1925 Paris World’s Fair Exhibition of Modern and Industrial Decorative Art.  Woven between the wars for the Western Market by mostly American owned firms, especially Nichols and Fette, Chinese Art Deco rugs (as the name implies) were made in thick heavy weaves using strong colors, assymetric patterns, and downplaying the Chinese-ness of the carpet.

Nichols rugs are more strong toned than the pastel Fette.  In 1924 W. A. B. Nichols introduced the now world renowned “Super Chinese Rug”. These rugs were known in most markets as the most durable and beautiful product of the modern Chinese weavers art.  The reason that Nichols Super Rugs may have been so unique to themselves, is that every last part of the process was done by Nichols Company, in house.  Most were woven in the coastal port city of Tiensin, though other lesser known workshops were also active.

Helen Fette initially went to China as a missionary, selling small rugs to raise funds for various charities. Teaming up with Chinese rug manufacturer Li Meng Shu to form the Fette-Li Company, the pair started producing rugs out of the Peking area in the early 1920s, becoming one of the largest exporters of the period. Fette rugs usually have a floppy feel because the cotton warps are thinner and more pliable than those used in Nichols carpets, resulting in a soft, limber feel.  Many of the designs, over viewed by Fette, were taken from Chinese emroidery, or inspired by traditional Chinese motifs.

Both Fette and Nichols companies used fabric tags on the back of their rugs for identification purposes. Nichols also stamped “handwoven in China by Nichols” onto the backside of the fringe, however if the fringe has worn or been repaired, the mark will be absent. Because Fette and Nichols were so closely associated with the Deco period, rugs woven in their trademark style, without any identifying marks, are routinely referred to as Fette or Nichols style.

Some pieces are ultra-geometric and haute-Deco moderne in character: these are very rare.

More frequent are pieces with bits of Chinese ornament: vases or other precious objects, paeonies, vines, fences, etc.

Most common is the 9’0″ x 12’0″ size, in colors never found in mainstream Chinese rugs: backgrounds in black, mauve, purple, hot pink, orange, olive, employing the best synthetic chrome dyes of the period.  Prices are still reasonable and carpets in top condition are available.

to view these rugs on our website, please use the following links:

http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/21017/

http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/19573/

http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/19778/

http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/20278/

http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/40-986/

http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/18310/

http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/20997/

http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/20756/

http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/20300/

http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/19482/

http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/20446/

*research and writing by Peter Saunders & Katrina Mauro

Woven Arts of China: Antique Rugs

Archeological excavations have produced rugs from the Han Dynasty China, and carpets have been woven continually in China proper since the Ming Dynasty.  Antique carpets available today are principally from three sources.

NingXia, in Western China, wove softly textured, loosely woven pieces with corrosive plain brown outer borders in the early examples, often in large square sizes, with foo dog medallions, cloud wreaths, paeonies, and ornamental patterns of bats or butterflies.  Dragon pillar carpets were created especially for monasteries, as were runners in panel designs.

In the later 19th Century, workshops were established in Peking weaving the ever popular blue-and-white color scheme with Chinese motifs including precious objects, complex fretwork, or floral borders and elaborate medallions.

In the 1920s Tientsin on the Pacific Coast wove Art Deco style pieces with strong colors, minimal Chinese elements, and heavy textures.  Prices for antique rugs vary immensely.

Production today remains sizeable in China and any size and style may be ordered, including copies of very fine Persian silks.

To view these rugs on our website, please see the following links:

NingXia: http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/18663/

Peking: http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/17029/

Art Deco: http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/18588/

*research and writing by Peter Saunders, edited by Katrina Mauro.

Chinese Art Deco: circa 1930

#40-986

Chinese – Art Deco

8’0″ x 10’0″

circa 1930

As seen in ‘Art Deco & Modernist Carpets’ by Susan Dry (page 94)

 

In the 1930s, the demand for handwoven rugs, which could not be made in the United States, caused a surge of industry overseas, especially in China.  There were major factories opened in Beijung and Tientsin.

This particular design is the child of the Fette-Li Company of Beijing China.  The Fette-Li Company was set up in 1919 by Helen Fette in Partnership with Chinese weaver Li Meng Shu.

Many of the designs, over viewed by Fette, were taken from Chinese emroidery, or inspired by traditional Chinese motifs.  This pine tree design is one of their more distinctly Art Deco pieces.

 

http://www.rahmanan.com/inventory/show/40-986/