OLD ORIENTAL CARPET by Lloyd Rowcroft and Danilo Silva Rabanal

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 they are shown here as well.

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 have customers and collectors in 39 countries.

If you have any questions please contact -

Lloyd Rowcroft. email - ldrowcroft@gmail.com. Tel. Mobile and WhatsApp (+34) 617 861 520 or (+34) 952 78 60 83. Based in San Pedro Alcantara. Available to visit from Malaga to Tarifa in the western Costa del Sol.

Danilo Silva Rabanal. email - danilino69@hotmail.com Tel. Mobile and WhatsApp (+34) 652 296 072. Based in Frigiliana. Available to visit from Malaga to Almeria in the eastern Costa del Sol.

THIS LARGE HIGH ATLAS MOROCCAN BERBER CARPET IS THE FOCAL POINT AND COMPLIMENTS ALL THE SIMPLE FURNITURE OF A COUNTRY STYLE HOUSE IN SOUTHERN SPAIN.

FOUND IT............a rare Berber bag face depicting a scene from the French invasion of 1932 in the Moroccan High Atlas. Every buying trip for 3 years I always asked and looked for one on behalf of a Japanese collector. I could not wait to give him the good news.

HIGH ATLAS BERBER RUG from the Eastern High Atlas. Best quality local undyed wool has a silky, lustrous sheen.

TURKOMAN TENT STORAGE BAG. A VERY RARE AND FINELY EMBROIDERED BAG WOVEN IN THE REGION OF LABIJAR IN NORTH WEST AFGHANISTAN CLOSE TO THE TURKMENISTAN BORDER. THE REVERSE SIDE IS EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL.

I checked every rug and bag in this van which had just arrived at the rug bazaar in this Middle Atlas Moroccan village but could not find anything really good. The Berber driver on the right leaning against the wall did not need his calculator.

EVERY MONDAY MORNING IN THIS VILLAGE IN THE MIDDLE ATLAS THE SEARCHERS WHO TRAVEL THE RURAL AREAS BRING THE RUGS AND TEXTILES THEY FIND FOR AN IMPROMPTU STREET MARKET. I FIND SOME GREAT PIECES HERE AND OVER MANY YEARS HAVE ONLY MET ONE OTHER WESTERN DEALER. BUT YOU HAVE TO GET UP VERY EARLY.

MOROCCAN BERBER MIXED TECHNIQUE RUG known as a handira. It is a mixture of piled woven sections and bands of embroidered kilim weave. Pieces like this are used as bedding in the cold winter night of the High Atlas Mountains south of Marrakech en route to the Pre Sahara.

ENTRANCE TO AN OLD PART OF THE BAZAAR -- SOMETHING NOT QUITE RIGHT WITH THE TRANSLATION !!

GABBEH KILIM - a simplistic and bold flat weave which will make a dramatic contribution to modern decor.

WE RESTORE HAND WOVEN RUGS -- But only if the restoration is justifiable. All examination, identification, appraisal and advice is free.

A SIMPLE UNDYED BENI OURAIN RUG FROM BERBERS IN THE MIDDLE ATLAS OF MOROCCO BRINGS ALL THE UNDERSTATED PIECES IN THIS ROOM TOGETHER.

DO NOT LET THE SIGN STOP YOU - LOOK THROUGH OUR WEBSITE AND FIND FASCINATING UNIQUE PIECES FOR YOUR HOME.

ANTIQUE PRE - SOVIET CAUCASIAN RUG from the region of Zakatal, a group of villages in north west Azerbaijan. The date reads (either 1311) or 1331 which equates to 1912.

PART OF A BALOUCH ENCAMPMENT PITCHED JUST OUTSIDE THE MUD WALLS AT THE EDGE OF QUETTA IN NORTHERN PAKISTAN JUST A FEW KILOMETRES FROM THE AFGHAN BORDER. It is difficult to believe that such beautiful weavings can be woven in the surroundings. I found some bags and trappings here.

MAGNIFICENT, OLD AND PERFECT CARPET FROM KHORASSAN PROVINCE IN NORTH EAST PERSIA The inscription shows that it was woven in the studio of Master Weaver Ahmed Bagheri in Asghand.

BELOUCH / BALOUCH ANIMAL TRAPPING. This extraordinary neck band is from a Belouch group in Khorassan. There are four raised, round flower heads in the pile and from each one there are 2 small and 1 larger hand beaten brass bells. The beadwork is exceptional. In "The Carpets of Afghanistan" the author, R.D. Parsons, confirms that this type of bell is used for rams.

HOSPITALITY -- AFGHAN STYLE. BREAKFAST OF TEA AND BREAD SERVED ON TWO KILIMS WHICH WERE LAST NIGHT·S BED COVERS.

THE KHYBER PASS. FORBIDING, OVERWHELMING.

A GIFT FROM THE BAZAARIS IN AVENIDA FIRDAUSI IN TEHRAN. AN OLD PANEL OF PLY WOOD WAS QUICKLY CUT TO SIZE, PAINTED AND INSCRIBED.

Rare and beautiful small rug from the tiny hamlet of Quizapan, near Karadja, north west Persia . The latest Iranian government census shows the hamlet as having 25 houses and 92 inhabitants..............You can not get more rare than this. Details on "Small/Medium Rugs"

KURDISH KILIM FROM THE REGION OF QUCHAN which lies between the city of Meshed and extends north to the Persian border with Turkmenistan.

MOROCCAN BERBER ANTIQUE BEATING COMB from the Ourika Valley. The comb has a cedar wood handle and hand wrought metal shaft and teeth. The face of the plate has hand carved Berber designs which have been smoothed by decades of use. The comb is 22 cms., or 9 inches long and weighs a kilo or 2,2 pounds.