Quite excited about this rug I’ve spent a few hours researching as best I can. I’m excited not because it is rare or desperately valuable but because it’s an opportunity to pore over something skillfully and uniquely made.

I’m always drawn to rugs of this type and there are many about and I’d guess even (or especially) they’re arriving from Afghanistan by the truckload. However, usually, the antique examples I see are very worn and threadbare, damaged, restored or out of my price range.

This was definately in my price range (a computer game, or something like, would have to wait) and it was in excellent condition. Apart from its ‘one of a kind’ -ness this piece turned out to be wider at one end than the other by about a couple of inches. No matter, idiosyncratic is good.

This has a peculiarly deep indigo ground, some subtle colours in the border motifs and (once one’s eye becomes accustomed to the dizzying colour and design) it reveals itself as depicting two large vases. Four smaller vases float in attendance. The weaver has further elaborated this theme with a repeating floral and leaf border. Damn me if they don’t look like poppies though I expect to be disabused of this notion by someone less naive.

The colours in borders, reds, golds, greens, oranges and a kind of mustardy yellow, are stunning.

Compare with this image of a Baluchi Vase of Flowers pattern from the War Rugs Blog.

A last tribute to the War Rug Site: Do Not Touch!

Welcome to our first newsletter.
We aim to keep you informed of new stock, forthcoming exhibitions and also some things you might find useful or interesting.

• New Stock
• Winter Exhibition 2009
• Catalogue on line
• New publications
• New Welsh Quilting Centre

Winter Exhibtion 2009
Our Winter Selling Exhibition starts on Saturday 14 November and is open every day 10am – 5pm until Saturday 21 November. The catalogue will be in the post…Royal Mail permitting! by the end of October.Just in case, it will also be available as a pdf document on our website home page from 2 November.
Also this year, by popular request we will include the price list and prices will also be available on the website. Items will be available to buy from 2nd November.
www.timbowenantiques.co.uk
The Jen Jones Quilt Centre opened its doors this summmer at the Old Town Hall in Lampeter. There is an excellent permanent exhbition of Welsh Quilts and a changing exhibition of contemporary Welsh design and art. Well worth a visit, especially if you are visiting us and staying a few days. Also stop at the Welsh Woolen Museum near Newcastle Emlyn.
www.jen-jones.com
Books
Welsh Samplers by Chris S Stephens and Eleri Davies Gomer Press £3.99 good small but informative book on a subject near to our hearts.
A Christmas Collection from Wales also by Chris S Stephens at £7.99 – both plus packaging and good as stocking fillers.
Early British Chairs and Seats by Tobias Jellinek published by Antique Collectors Club. A wonderful book well written in a style to amuse and entertain as well as enlighten. www.antiquecollectorsclub.com
Tim Bowen Antiques, Ferryside, Carmarthenshire
info@timbowenantiques.co.uk