Rattan & Wool: Preview

Today a brief but Fascinating introduction [if I do say so myself] to two examples of Folk Art from different parts of the world.

To the upper left [directly behind me] is a fine old piece of Japanese rattan. Bought in Nagoya, Honshu in the early 1950s, it demonstrates the rugged durability & lasting beauty of the simple art of the bamboo weave. Bamboo plays a large part in the economic, intellectual, and material cultures especially, but not only, in Asia.

"Bamboo is a mystical plant as a symbol of strength, flexibility, tenacity, endurance and compromise. [B]amboo has for centuries been integral to religions ceremonies, art, music and daily life. It is the paper, the brush and the inspiration of poems and paintings. Among the earliest historical records, 2nd century B.C. were written on green bamboo strips strung together in a bundle with silk thread. Instruments made of bamboo create unique resonance." --http://kauai.net/bambooweb/whybamboo.html

I am sitting on a relatively modern Persian rug. Woven from wool it is an example of an everyday floor rug. As such it receives a certain amount of abuse since in Persia floors, covered by these beautiful but utilitarian carpets, are the chairs, sofas, dining tables and play areas in even most 21st century homes.

Soon to come: an entry focused on the special silk carpets, both old & new. Their beauty is such that both fronts & backs of these carpets are demonstrations of the ingenuity & talents of Persian weavers throughout the centuries.

By the way, if you visit Tehran, make an effort to visit the Carpet Museum located in city center.

Note: Pauvre Mama. See her pants & shoes? But surely my happy smile makes up for her photographic error. Cheers for now.