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economist suntribune saturday nov 30 2002 13 advertising feature passport to what kind of player are you persian carpets unique in everyway by bart card contributing travel editor having worked extensively in the middle east i have always fan cied the look feel texture and design of persian rugs and carpets known as the home of the orig inal oriental carpet iran persia the oldest and once most powerful empire in the middle east stood at the crossroads of eastern and western civilizations under the safavid dynasty 15021736 iran attained its artistic height court weaving together with the arts of calligraphy miniature painting and tile work flourished to exceptional heights this brilliant era witnessed the development of highly qualified carpet factories in the cities of kerman isfahan kashan tabriz and herat iran is the genesis of most motifs patterns and tradition al colours produced in rugs throughout the world today over the centuries persian carpets have become treasured heirlooms passed on from one generation to the next i learned many of these fabulous details concerning the rich history of the persian rug while attending a recent auction at the markham home show thanks in large part of auctioneer warren rose it was there that warren introduced me to gheisar cheisari a wholesaler and direct importer who owns and operates cheisari rug co on observatory lane in richmond hill a family operated business since 1873 gheisari imports persian rugs direct from iran and features rugs for everyones budget persian carpet export began in the 16th century starting in the 1850s american english and german firms established new fac tories in mashed tabriz kerman and sultanabad thereby ensuring the art forms continued develop ment under reza shah pahlavi royal factories were established to utilize the finest materials and methods of manufacture persian carpets and rugs have always been and still are an intrin sic part of iranian culture and its peoples daily lives carpets and rugs are in many cases the most valued possessions and an integral part of an iranian home it is not surprising that current production levels throughout iran equal those reached prior to the islamic revolution of 1979 in fact rugs are now even produced in areas where weaving was not practiced persian carpets continue to boast very high quality standards and command a very brisk interest in domestic and international mar kets while large city workshops were an important factor in the past much of todays production is fashioned along cottage industry lines in smaller villages and towns perhaps the most important les son i learned from gheisar and warren is the simple fact that each persian rug is unique in every way rugs are often named after the vil lage town or district where they are woven or collected or by the weaving tribe in the case of nomadic pieces for more information contact gheisari rug co at 905 7879085 and visit the companys outstanding showroom on observatory lane in 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