The New Environmentally-Friendly Weavings of the Qashq’ai

The New Environmentally-Friendly Weavings of the Qashq’ai

Turkic-speaking groups which later formed the Qashq’ai tribe migrated to the Farsregion in southwest Iran around 600 years ago.

The most probable theory is that
they migrated from different regions from the north and northwest of Iran such as
Turkmenistan, Caucasus, and Asia Minor, which can be supported both by the
similarities between their dialects and those of the Shahsevans of East Azerbaijan,
as well as by the motifs of their weavings, which include elements of Turkmen,
Caucasian, and Turkish weaving traditions. Qashq’ai women weave beautiful
Gabbeh rugs with local hand-spun wool and natural dyes. Since there are no
synthetics or chemicals involved in this kind of weaving, there is no harm to the
environment, or to the weavers and the end users. The return to the tradition of
using hand spun wool and vegetable dye in the Fars province of Iran has affected
many other areas in Iran, and other cities and rug centers are following the example
of Fars province. Dr. Khosrow Sobhe will discuss some of the history of the Qashq’
ai, and their new production, and show examples. This program will be
accompanied by an exclusive video presentation of the Qashq’ai rug weaving, from
sheering, spinning, and dyeing the wool with all the steps taken in making such
rugs. Exclusive photos of the weaving process and the weavers will be also
presented. TMA/SC members are invited to bring examples of Qashq’ai weavings
for show & tell.

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe is the founder and CEO of RugIdea.com, and SOBCO
International. He holds an MBA and a second Master’s degree in Education, and a
Ph.D. in Educational Planning from USC. He is a member of the boards of the
Iranian Carpet Exporters’ Association and the Textile Museum Associates of
Southern California, and Editor in Chief of Iranian Hand Woven quarterly, published
by the Iranian Carpet Exporters’ Association. Dr. Sobhe is an award winning carpet
exporter of the year 2000 and received the Iranian Presidential award. He has
written numerous articles in Farsi and in English on Persian carpets, and has
delivered many lectures on Persian rugs in different venues. There will be live
weaving and repair during the TMA program at his oriental rug gallery.

Saturday, August 11, 2007
10:00 a.m. Refreshments 10:30 Program

SOBCO International, Inc., 1655 South La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90035
About 1 mile north of the 10 freeway, on the NW corner of La Cienega and
Airdrome. Please consult www.mapquest.com
for directions and a map. From La Cienega, turn West on Airdrome, then Right into
the alley behind the store.
Free parking in lot or on neighborhood streets. Enter the store from the rear
parking lot

TMA/SC UPCOMING EVENTS and RUG & TEXTILE COMMUNITY NEWS:

Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007
“YARNS FROM THE AEGEAN ISLANDS: GREEK EMBROIDERIES” with Sumru
Krody, Associate Curator of Eastern Hemisphere Textiles, The Textile Museum,
Washington, D.C.

In the works for
Fall, 2007

December 8, 2007 “MATERIAL CHOICES: BAST AND LEAF FIBER TEXTILES”
with Curator Roy Hamilton, Fowler Museum at UCLA

“CHINESE RANK BADGES” with Therese Tse Bartholomew, Asian Art Museum, San
Francisco, in conjunction with the exhibition “Rank and Style: Power Dressing in
Imperial China” at the Pacific Asia Museum, Pasadena

“MATERIAL CHOICES: BAST AND LEAF FIBER TEXTILES” Exhibition at the Fowler
Museum at UCLA August 26-December 30. Bast and leaf fibers are notoriously
difficult to process and weave into cloth, yet weavers around the world have learned
to capitalize on the materials’ subtle natural beauty and to manipulate complicated
and demanding dye procedures to great effect. In Material Choices, see an unusual
array of garments and more made of these challenging fibers, explore their
significant use in the Pacific, and examine the current state of many bast and leaf
fiber weaving traditions that nearly became extinct in the mid-20th century but have
now undergone a revival. The TMA/SC will host a program for our members this fall
related to this exhibition.

THE TEXTILE MUSEUM FALL SYMPOSIUM “The Collecting Passion” FRIDAY,
OCTOBER 19 – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2007. Complementing and expanding
ideas from the exhibitions Private Pleasures: Collecting Contemporary Textile Art
and Ahead of His Time: The Collecting Vision of George Hewitt Myers, this weekend
conference explores the history and current state of collecting from different
perspectives. Participants enjoy a varied program of presentations by scholars and
collectors, receptions, exhibition tours and a special “Show-and-Tell” session. Join
us for this opportunity to exchange fresh perspectives and new ideas with fellow
textile enthusiasts! For more information call (202) 667-0441, ext. 64 or email
reception@textilemuseum.org or www.textilemuseum.org/symposium.htm.

Presents

Green Rugs: The New Environmentally-Friendly
Weavings of the Qashq’ai

with

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe
SOBCO International, Inc. Oriental Carpets

RugIdea.com

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