Written by Oryx |
Added: 26.04.2010, 14:54
Jürgen Dahlmanns - Rug Star
A CONTEMPORARY DESIGNER FROM GERMANY, Jürgen Dahlmanns reveals his love affair with hand-woven rugs that are exquisitely designed and meticulously made.
Rug Star is the brainchild of German designer Jürgen Dahlmanns, a self-confessed ‘rug addict’ based in Berlin. His hand-knotted Tibetan area rugs are produced using fair trade raw materials: Tibetan highland wool, Chinese silk, and sometimes Himalayan hemp and nettle fibre.
“I love the twist and confrontation between the Chinese silk mixed together with the raw hemp. The main theme in my work is to visualise ‘movement’ in the rug, using colours, patterns and a material mix. These elements create rugs that are naughty and smart; I think this is the same attitude I like in people!
“All my rugs are produced in my two workshops in Nepal by our 600 Tibetan and Nepali staff. Each rug takes around 3,000 hours to produce; their quality reflects our love, the social consequences, and the handicrafts of the Himalayas. To reach this,
we opened a school, child daycare [centre] and a small hospital. We love each rug and the people we work with, so since I opened the workshop ten years ago, I’ve spend March/April and October/November there, to develop the new designs and innovations.”
Sold in 27 countries, Rug Star products will also be available from June 2010 at Samovar Carpets and Antiques at The Pearl – Qatar.
Hand-woven masterpieces
Kashmir Anatolian Qum Silk Rug
This distinctive Kashmir silk rug is strongly influenced by the floral design rugs of the Qum style from the late 16th century.
Woven from highest quality silk, the carpet has a special sheen and a very high knot density. The rug is one of a kind, taking Kashmir craftsmen years to weave.
US$18,899
www.kashmircompany.com
Persian Isfahan Rug
The hand-knotted pile of this rug is wool and the design embellished with silk, with a close weave achieved by using the Persian knot, enabling the weaver to produce a much sharper and more clearly defined pattern. Silk highlights catch the light and sparkle as you walk across the carpet.
US$8,700
www.olneyrugs.com
Endless Nova Rug
Designed by Esti Barnes, this subtle design from the Metallica collection was inspired by moonlight on water. Known for her innovative techniques and materials, Esti’s ‘work of art’ rugs can be colourful, textural, tonal, patterned, or plain – and even sculptural. This hand-woven piece is
available as a flatweave runner or rug.
US$799 per square metre
www.topfloorrugs.com
New Wave – Cusco
The New Wave collection of rugs are hand-woven with pure hand-spun New Zealand wool. Natural vegetable and root dyes are used for the colouring – in fact the entire manufacturing and weaving process
is eco-friendly.
US$2,300
www.rugsonline.com.au
Waterfall Hand-Knotted Rug
Every rug that is offered in Allegra Hicks’ collection is made by hand; none are
mass produced or standard. All the rugs
are hand-knotted in the traditional way, using carefully selected wool and/or silk
to produce a variation in ground colour to create a unique collection.
US$530 per square metre.
www.allegrahicks.com
