I am fortunate to have had my business for 30 years which grew out of a fascinating hobby. In the 1980’s and 1990’s I made more than 30 extensive buying trips, many through the traditional weaving countries of Central Asia. There I had the opportunity to study at first hand the many types of weaving, the complexity of dyes and the skills of the restorers. The subject of oriental carpets is so vast it has been compared to astronomy in that no one person can ever know everything. I have tried to break the subject down into simple sections and welcome any comments you have. My main activity is to value, repair and restore hand woven carpets and textiles. In the “International Rug Book” published by HALI they list a tiny number of similar professionals in Spain and, as far as I know, I am alone in the south. Inevitably my work presents wonderful opportunities to find interesting, mostly old, items for sale and we usually have around 300 or so pieces at any one time.
My pueblo is San Pedro Alcántara, a small town on the coast of southern Spain, midway between the city of Màlaga and Gibraltar. This is not the backwater it appears - in fact, it is almost the crossroads of the world in rug terms. I not only see Spanish weaving but much from our north African and Portuguese neighbours. This area has a huge cultural and cosmopolitan mix. Weavings are brought from the Spanish speaking areas of south and central America, the newly emerging countries of eastern Europe and immigrants and those people retiring from northern Europe and Scandinavia. If you add these to the carpets of the traditional countries of Central Asia such as Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan, India/Pakistan and China, I probably see one of the broadest spectrums of hand woven textiles.
Because I have my own workshop many pieces I acquire are carefully washed to reveal the true colours and lustre. These pieces are of the type not usually available in regular retail shops and because of my minimal overheads prices are inexpensive.
