Brian MacDonald delivers lecture on Antique Oriental Rugs

Noted lecturer and author Brian MacDonald delivered a lectutyre to the North Devon Decorative and Fine Arts Society on  Antique Oriental Rugs and their history:

"North Devon Decorative and Fine Arts Society: We were pleased to welcome Brian MacDonald to our November meeting to tell us about Tribal Rugs - Treasures of the Black Tent. Brian has spent many years travelling in Persia, now Iran, Afghanistan, Kurdistan and many neighbouring countries and so was able to give a particularly detailed history of the weaving practised by the nomadic tribes of these areas, using slides and examples of artefacts. More than 2,000 years ago, a chief was put in his tomb in Pazyryk with his chariot, gold objects and items that would be of use to him in the afterlife. All was covered with a carpet showing the way to paradise and although the gold was stolen by robbers, the carpet was discovered in 1947 by Russian archaeologists, preserved in the permafrost with most of its intricate pattern still visible. This beautiful relic is now in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and is the oldest known example of this art form.
Brian took us through the centuries from Nineveh to Persepolis and on into the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries when magnificent rugs were woven with intricate patterns of dragons and phoenixes representing good and evil. A 15th century bird rug from Eastern Anatolia shows the universal symbol of the tree of life, surrounded by birds as the carriers of the soul.
For thousands of years the nomads of Central Asia have made migrations twice a year, carrying all their possessions with them and driving their flocks to fresh pastures. Their fat tailed sheep provide milk, meat and wool from which carpets, camel bags and other containers are woven. The women of the tribe card, spin and weave the wool. No patterns, which are highly symbolic, are written down but are passed on from mother to daughter in song from around the age of five. Up until the end of the 19th century, only natural, mostly vegetable dyes were used, but then chemical and synthetic dyes were produced in Germany and were widely accepted. Unfortunately, the synthetic dyes were too bright for the rugs to find favour with western markets, so the rugs were bleached. Having used these wonderful woven lengths as bedding, camel bags, vanity purses, grain sacks etc, about 15 years ago the tribes began to throw them away in favour of plastic sacks. Brian has managed, over the years, to obtain some truly beautiful examples. His lecture was excellent and greatly enjoyed..."
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