OLD ORIENTAL CARPET by Lloyd Rowcroft and Danilo Silva Rabanal

HOME SMALL/MIDDLE RUGS 1 SMALL/MIDDLE RUGS 2 SMALL/MIDDLE RUGS 3 LARGE CARPETS KILIMS/FLATWEAVES 1 KILIMS/FLATWEAVES 2 KILIMS/FLATWEAVES 3 TRIBAL BAGS 1 TRIBAL BAGS 2 TRIBAL BAGS 3 SALE - TRADE-INS 1 SALE - TRADE-INS 2 ARTEFACTS 1 ARTEFACTS 2 RESTORATION CHARITY - AGE CONCERN ABOUT/CONTACT

WELCOME TO THE WEBSITE OF OLD ORIENTAL CARPET

We deal in interesting, mostly older, rugs, kilims, textiles and embroideries from the traditional areas of North Africa as well as Central and South East Asia. Inevitably we can not resist the beautiful artisanal artefacts and antiques from these lands and these are also shown.

We value and restore rugs and textiles. Only justified work undertaken. Advice is free.

Our location is in the tip of Southern Spain within sight of Morocco which is only a 35 minute fast ferry away. We work extensively through the internet and help customers and collectors in 39 countries.

Please refer to the Contact page for more information. For our latest news see our Facebook page. The index shows just a couple of examples of the rugs, flat weaves and bags we have. Click on the relevent type to see the full range. This HOME PAGE shows examples of each group and the places we find most of them.

SEARCHING FOR RUGS....

SCENES ALONG THE WAY.......

I always found good examples of Balouch bags from this dealer near Quetta. See our Tribal Bags pages.

Baluch encampment on the road from Kandahar to Quetta. It was a good source of textiles for me in the local walled village just behind the tents.

The rug dealers in the Bazaar in Fes at the entrance to the Moroccan High Atlas claim it is the world`s largest. Find small and middle sized rugs, together with larger carpets, all direct from Morocco, on the web pages.

Magnificent architecture and craftsmanship -- Even in the arid, sandy desolate surroundings..

OUR CLEANING, REPAIR AND RESTORATION......

FINDING THE RIGHT MATERIALS......

A classic case of bored dog syndrome.

The Dyers section of the bazaar in Marrakech where every shade of colour can be made. Do not wear your best clothes -- splashing is inevitable.

Re-knotting by hand a worn area in this antique Berber ceremonial horse cover from the High Atlas of Morocco. I blended three different thicknesses and shades of hand spun wools to get a perfect match before reweaving. Two of the wools and two fine steel needles used are seen in the top right hand corner of the photograph.

Open air market in the western Middle Atlas of Morocco. As an extra job the lady sitting on the right hand side, her face protected from the scorching sun by a traditional Berber hat, strips down fragments of old and antique kilims so the wools can be re-used in restoration. I am a regular customer.

EXAMPLES OF SMALL/MIDDLE RUGS......

Very rare antique rug from the Alpujarra mountain region of southern Spain. It is dated 1870 and also inscribed with the weaver`s name. See full details of this 150 year old rug in "SMALL/MIDDLE RUGS, page 3.

MOROCCAN BERBER RUG -- a sumptuous long piled rug using only three undyed wools in the pile. It is from Azilal, the town which is a gateway to the High Atlas Mountains. See full details on "SMALL/MIDDLE RUGS, PAGE 1.:

EXAMPLES OF LARGE CARPETS......

A full day spent in the carpet bazaar in the souk in Marrakech yielded only 6 large Berber carpets from the hundreds I handled and inspected. Old and impeccable are hard to find. See the page in the index called "LARGE CARPETS" for details.

Very large old Moroccan Berber carpet woven in the village of Ait Ouazazate in the High Atlas Mountains south of Marrakech. Condition is impeccable as it has only been used for ceremony or important family meetings. I found it there. Please enlarge this photo and see how the carpet is perfect for a light, simply furnished, room. More details on the "LARGE CARPETS" page of the site.

EXAMPLES OF KILIMS/FLATWEAVES......

Very finely woven smallish kilim from the region of Veramin in northern Persia. The size allows for several options for use and display in your home. Full details on "KILIMS/FLAT WEAVES, page 3.

Kilims with a plain black background upon which colourful piled Berber designs are woven are usually woven in a group of villages called Ourika in the foothills of the High Atlas. They are a wonderful addition to the floors and walls of the simple white interiors of today. Details are shown on "KILIMS/FLATWEAVES", page 1.

EXAMPLES OF TRIBAL BAGS/TRAPPINGS......

Rare pair of Balouch bag faces from the region of north east Persia, circa 1930s. Full details are on "TRIBAL BAGS", page 1.

Beautiful example of a Kurdish tribal bag, circa 1930s. Natural, soft glowing colours. Full details please see "TRIBAL BAGS", page 1.

EXAMPLES OF ARTEFACTS......

ANTIQUE MOROCCAN SHOES hand made by a skilled shoemaker circa 1890/1910 probably in the city of Fes. Read more about them in our "Artefacts" pages.

RARE BERBER ARTEFACT - Berbers of the High Atlas love wild honey - the problem is finding the colony, stealing their honey and getting away before being attacked by a swarm of very angry bees. This primitive, hand made, unfired bowl is the answer. Read how it works by reading the entry on our "Artefacts" pages.

EXAMPLES OF INEXPENSIVE TRADE-INS......

Surviving large Balouch carpets are a rarity. This antique piece has enough pile to glow and still provide a soft lustrous textile. See the "TRADE - INS" section for full details and snap it up for only 120 euros.

ANTIQUE YAMOUT TURKOMAN HATCHLI: Read extensive information about this rare Turkoman rug in the "TRADE - INS" section. It will reward a good home and at 125 euros is a bargain..

BREAKFAST TIME: Tea and fresh bread from the hole in the ground nearby which is fired up and becomes the village stove. The kilim acting as a table cloth on the ground was my blanket last night.

DINNER TIME: After a day of 40 degree heat and seeing 100s of rugs it is time to eat and sleep. This hostal type buidling is called a "Chaikana" or combination eating and sleeping facility. They are found all over Afghanistan and its border regions.