The Splendour of Antique Rugs and Tapestries [Hardcover]

Parvis Nemati (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2002

For many centuries the designs that have been woven into Oriental rugs and tapestries have been indicative of the cultural and historical tradition of each rug-weaving area of the world. The Splendor of Antique Rugs and Tapestries celebrates this practice in sumptuous style. Parviz Nemati believes tapestries and handmade carpets to be the most expressive works of art that have ever been produced and provides and extensive history of this resplendent tradition. The techniques of rug weaving are discussed and accompained by chapters on each of the major types. The volume incorporates rugs of the Orient and of Europe as well as European tapestries of the 15th to 19th centuries. The Splendor of Antique Rugs and Tapestries is a Priceless reference tool for designers, collectors, investors, private buyers, or those interested purely because of the decorative qualities of the woven arts.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Parviz Nemati was born into a family of collectors, dealers, and educators in Oriental rugs. He grew up among the rug weavers of Kerman, one of the most aged and celebrated rug centres of Iran. Mr. Nemati owns the Nemati Collection a specialist gallery in New York City and acts as a consultant and an appraiser to museums and private collectors. He is also the author of Rugs as an Investment.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 410 pages
• Publisher: Antique Collectors Club Ltd (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1851493816
• ISBN-13: 978-1851493814
• Product Dimensions: 13 x 10 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,515,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars large carpet collection of moderate quality, January 1, 2010

By 

Ivor E. Zetler (Sydney Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Splendour of Antique Rugs and Tapestries (Hardcover)

Parviz Nemati is a New York carpet dealer and this large sized book has 300 photographic illustrations of carpets and tapestries that he has owned or traded. The rugs are grouped by regions and most of the expected areas are covered; Turkish, Caucasian, Persian, Turkmen, Indian, Chinese and European. There is additionally a smallish group of tapestries described. Nemati gives an overview of each section and briefly describes each carpet or tapestry.

The blurb on the front jacket claims that this "magnificent volume, a work of art in itself, will mesmerize all who appreciate the beauty of textiles, while the text will serve as an invaluable reference...". This exagerated assertion sounds like the talk of some rug traders that I have encountered! The truth is that the text, while informative, is clearly written but hardly scholarly or stylishly written.

Nemati makes no claime that the examples of rugs presented are of museum quality, rather they would be the type of piece to be found in a better quality carpet dealership. While there are certainly a number of attractive pieces on display, many seem to me to be of quite ordinary quality and a few are frankly ugly. Obviously this opinion is a matter of personal taste and perhaps this is also because most good carpet books will have illustrations of rugs of a higher standard.

So this volume would appeal to the beginner collector rather than someone seeking an authorative text and illustrations of rare museum quality carpets and tapestries. The standard of the photographic reproductions is above average but not exceptional.