Rugs, like all other artifacts in traditional societies, perform not just utilitarian functions but store and transfer information on the world-outlook o f their creators. Rugs like other kinds o cultural texts (ritual, mythology, images, structures, etc.) retain archaic features which tie the culture of the Turks of Asia Minor with Turkish cultures [ethnic Turkic peoples] of other regions...... read more

Thogchags are Tibetan talismans made of bronze and meteoric metals dating as far back as the Bronze Age. While precise dates for the Tibetan Bronze Age have yet to be formulated, archaeological evidence from various sites around the country indicate that it started around the beginning of the Second Millennium BCE. An unbroken tradition of producing amulets extends into the Iron Age and Buddhist periods creating a cultural legacy several thousand years old. read more.....

Posted November 14, 2004

For over one decade, I have been actively involved in the exploration of the Byang-thang region of Tibet in conjunction with my research into pre-Buddhist culture and archaeology (see bibliography). While Tibet is synonymous with Buddhist learning and culture, its civilization extends much further back into antiquity than the Buddhist period. My findings demonstrate that Tibet supported a sophisticated culture long before the dawn of the Buddhist era in the 7th century. This earlier civilization was closely connected to the early Bon religion, an amorphous indigenous belief system which seems to have been enriched by various traditions coming from adjoining countries. read more......

Posted January 29, 2005

Throughout the long history of textile production in ancient Inner Asia and Central Asia, we encounter certain recurring themes, themes which reflect ubiquitous beliefs that transcend political borders as well as ethnic groupings. These pervasive images seen in rugs and textiles more than 2000 years old repeated appear over the past two millenium in areas stretching from the Altai Mtns through the steppelands of Central Asia to Anatolia. This pictorial record will hopefully provide a clearer understanding of the vision and artistry of these weavers from past eras and the reasoning behind the creation of these images. read more.....

Posted March 15, 2005

Investigation of Karakalpak carpets and rugs has been minimal, and their representation in collections is scant. Until now there have been no publications on the Karakalpak rugs in the museums of Nukus, Ashgabat, Tashkent, Moscow and St. Petersburg. This article is the first attempt in this field. read more........

Posted November 4, 2005

Screens made with the stems of reeds or canes are an integral part of the round felt tent of the northern nomads. The Kirghiz and Kazakh decorate their screens with coloured wool to form elaborate and striking patterns. read more......

Posted Sept. 2, 2006

In 1905 while walking down Fourth Avenue in New York City, James Ballard passed an Oriental rug shop near the corner of 33rd Street. A small rug with bright red color caught his eye and he entered. The rug was priced at $500 but Mr. Ballard, possibly having been told one bargains with Oriental rug dealers, countered with a lower offer. read more...

Posted Sept. 10, 2006

Our understanding of the ancient cultures of Central Asia is in a state of constant evolution, keeping pace with new archaeological discoveries. We now know, thanks to work carried out over the past three decades, that a number of highly developed Bronze Age societies existed in the steppe lands. Study of surviving relics and ruins from that period has led to lively debate on the nature and culture of these early peoples, their possible origins, as well as their contacts and interactions with others. read more.....

Posted November 24, 2006 -- NEW !!

Part of the mystery and appeal of the Oriental carpet for collectors and scholars is its ability to incorporate designs from a wide range of sources.[1] However, inquiry into origins of designs should do more than simply satisfy our curiosity. Ideally, it leads us to a better understanding of the economic and artistic contexts in which a rug is woven. This article will examine the use of Ottoman textile designs in Turkish rugs and the impetus for those artistic borrowings. It will also attempt to draw some conclusions as to how we define and use both textiles and rugs and how they relate to our built environment. read more.....

Posted December 18, 2006

Central Asia, noted as the most glorious and dangerous part of the Silk Road, is home to Samarqand, jewel of Tamerlane's empire; Bukhara, cultural crossroads and center of trade; Tashkent, capitol of Uzbekistan and Russia's control point in the heart of Asia for a century; and Ashgabat, home of the Tekke Turkmens, feared raiders of caravans bound for Persia. Today all of these places are important cultural and political centers in the recently independent states of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Both countries are renowned as producers of oriental carpets, known primarily by the name 'Bukhara' Read more....

Posted May 29, 2007 -- NEW !!