Karapinar Rugs Berdj Achdjian Responds

Berdj Achdjian is one of the great rug dealers in the world today. He is based in France and over the years he has owned some of the great Karapinar Rugs. Berdj has been kind enough to share his insights into Karapinar rugs.

Achdjian Group 1 Achdjian divides the broader Karapinar group differently than I did on first cut. 01)- Court carpets or rugs designed by artists-designers who were perhaps not even Ottoman, but may be from others origin, and I do not want to let you know what I think because you would never trust me ... but may be within 25 years, then you would believe me ... in this category the carpet Turkish Rugs: The Casper Foy Karapinar Long Rug or my fragment (Sotheby's lot 66) Karapinar Carpet Fragment Late 16th C lot 66

The Achdjian Karapinar Carpet Fragment Late 16th lot 66

An email from Berdj Achdjian

Dear Barry O'Connell,  

01)- HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009 !!! health and Prosperity !! in armenian Shnoravor Nord Dari 2009 !

02)- I changed of blog company  now my blog address is http://textilum.wordpress.com

03)- I was reading on your site about KARAPINAR. I give to you my approach this group is not one real group. There are

01)- Court carpets or rugs designed by artists-designers who were perhaps not even Ottoman, but may be fro others origin, and I do not want to let you know what I think because you would never trust me ... but may be within 25 years, then you ould beleive me ... in this category the carpet Turkish Rugs: The Casper Foy Karapinar Long Rugor my fragment (sothebys lot 66) Karapinar Carpet Fragment Late 16th C lot 66

02)- local aristocratic rugs ... in this category Karapinar Yellow Ground Tulip Rug from Berdj Achdjian + the others fragments Chris Alexander, (when I found them, the 7 pieces were covering a canapé (diwan ?) or the one http://www.spongobongo.com/Oriental_Rugs/Turkish_Rugs/Karapinar_Rugs/Karapinar_Kilim_Style_Tulip_Rug_PMA.htm http://www.spongobongo.com/Oriental_Rugs/Turkish_Rugs/Karapinar_Rugs/Turkish_Rugs_Karapinar_Long_Rug_Fragment_Wolf_Collection.htm

03)- local villageous bourgeoisie (mostly greek origin) as http://www.spongobongo.com/Oriental_Rugs/Turkish_Rugs/Karapinar_Rugs/Turkish_Rugs_Karapinar_Carpet_Fragment_17th_Century.htmor but it is not because the pattern is similar that they are closely related ...     The problem; you should know that before 1915. THEY WERE NOT A MIDDLE TURKISH CLASS !  either very rich and wealthy, either military, either religious power ! The TURKISH BOURGEOISIE is born in 1915 with the Armenian Genocide. Read Dadrian (an armenian) or read Taner AKSAM (a turk and muslim historian who studied the Armenian Genocide). You do mistake because you think that the Turkish society of 1950 is a model for the Turkish society of 1550 or earlier . This does not work !   Call on the phone Taner Aksam, he is a proeminent historian and he speaks very well english, and he is turk. He will confirm to you that Islamic Turkish middle classes or Bourgeoisie who would have migth afford these rugs DID NOT EXISTED in these years 1500 - 1800 !!   04)- send to me your postal address, I shall send to you my coming auction catalogues for information (it is in french for that you will not notice my orthographic mitakes !!!! loool !   Best + Berdj

Berdj Achdjian

F + 33  (0)1 42 65 55 40
M + 33  (0)6 16 41 44 62
75008 Paris France
achdjian@wanadoo.fr
http://www.achdjian.com