130 Cecil Malone Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850
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Welcome to Our Monthly Newsletter
This month's topics are:
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
- Vaccine Development-Polio vs COVID-19
ORIENTAL RUGS
MISCELLANEOUS
- Assessing the Value of Handmade Rugs
CONSIGNMENT RUGS FOR SALE REMINDER
OCTOBER FALL CLEANING SPECIALS
If there is a topic you would like us to cover in one of our upcoming newsletters, please call us at:
607-272-1566
or contact us
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REMINDER:
Don't forget to keep checking our website for our beautiful
We have even more new rugs hanging!
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VACCINE DEVELOPMENT
POLIO vs COVID-19
VACCINE HESITANCY
During the vaccine development for polio, vaccine hesitancy was essentially non-existent and the new Salk vaccine was widely and wildly accepted. In 1955, millions of American children were lined up by their parents to get inoculated against polio.
With the development of the vaccines for COVID-19, millions of American adults have been inoculated. And yet, there exists an unyielding number of Americans who are stubbornly vaccine hesitant?
Both the polio vaccines and the COVID-19 vaccines were and are a victory of science. So why the difference in acceptance? Let's take a look...
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN the TWO DISEASES
Many similarities can be noted between the polio epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic. Both produced huge outbreaks throughout the country.
Polio disabled 35,000 people a year during the late 1940s and early 1950s, most of them children. Parents were terrified and voluntarily isolated themselves and their families. They tended to keep their children close to home, not allowing them to go to community gathering spots such as movie theaters, roller rinks or beaches.
As early on with COVID-19, it was not known how the virus was transmitted and, as with COVID-19, business and travel were affected.
FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT and THE MARCH OF DIMES
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had lost the use of his legs at the age of 39 from a polio infection. He launched the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis in the late 1930s, which was later renamed the March of Dimes. This foundation took the lead in efforts to fund research since the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was still in its infancy.
It was largely Roosevelt’s passion for finding some kind of solution, such as a cure or a vaccine, that made polio a priority in this country. His effort was akin to a call to action just as the war effort had been. And, in 1955 Americans had a deep respect for science.
Thousands of volunteers for the March of Dimes, primarily mothers, went door to door, distributing the latest information about polio. They asked for donations, even as little as a dime. As a result, dimes and dollars started pouring in and many donations were sent directly to the White House.
Americans at the time of the polio vaccine development felt they were invested in a solution and the public at the time had confidence in the research leading up to the polio vaccine. In fact, when the Salk vaccine was ready for experimental testing in 1954, 600,000 children were volunteered by their parents as research subjects.
In 1952, at the peak of the epidemic, polio had infected nearly 60,000 children and more than 3,000 died. By comparison, approximately a year’s worth of comparable statistics for the COVID-19 pandemic showed that more than 32 million people were reported infected and there had been more than 573,00 deaths.
Between 1955 and 1962, more than 400 million doses of the polio vaccine were distributed, reducing the cases of polio by 90%.
OPERATION WARP SPEED and the COVID-19 VACCINE DEVELOPMENT
As can be seen, there is a huge disparity between the way information was shared for polio and how COVID-19 information is shared today, as well as how much of it is available. Perhaps Operation Warp Speed was not an ideal name for the project to spearhead vaccine development because it actually sounded like speed was prioritized over everything else.
However, even though the vaccines were rolled out quickly, the FDA and CDC thoroughly tested them and ensured their safety and efficacy. Still, there is a lingering hesitancy among some Americans to receive the increasingly available COVID-19 shots.
Back during the polio epidemic, the public generally trusted the medical community and believed in each other. This is not so today. American’s trust of the medical and scientific community is at an all-time low. Additionally, there is a continuing flood of disinformation on the internet about all vaccines.
VICTORY OVER POLIO!
Please continue reading here for more information about vaccine development for these 2 diseases as well as problems that were worked out and lessons that can be learned today for the COVID-19 vaccine development from the polio vaccine development.
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In This Issue
Consignment Rugs for Sale Reminder-We have added more rugs!
Vaccine Development-Polio vs COVID-19 Masks
Gendje Oriental Rugs
Persian Gabbeh Oriental Rugs
Assessing the Value of Handmade Rug
OCTOBER Fall Cleaning Specials
Links to Our Services:
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GENDJE ORIENTAL RUGS
LOCATION
Gendje oriental rugs (Ganja, Geunge, etc.) were woven in the town of Gendje in the traditional rug-weaving area of the Caucasus Mountains. The name Gendje also refers to the mountainous area surrounding the town.
Gendje is located on the Western shore of the Caspian Sea and is bounded by the Black and Caspian Seas to the East and West, Russia to the North, and Turkey and Iran to the South.
ANTIQUE GENDJE ORIENTAL RUGS
Several different types of rugs came out of the Gendje area. They included the Ancient or Gadim Gendje, Fakhrali, Gedebey, Golkend, Cheykend, Chayli, Chiragli, Samukh, and Shadili. Information on each type can be found below...
ANCIENT or GADIM GENJE
These rugs are often called Gendje-Paisley rugs because they used the paisley pattern called Gendje-Buta (Boteh), which were often laid on the field diagonally. These rugs also contained religious symbols.
FAKHRALI
The Fakhrali rugs are prayer rugs and were woven in villages around Gendje. They were usually made in small sizes because they were used in and at religious ceremonies.
There would usually be an arc in the upper part of the field which represented the mosque architectural shape.
GEDEBEY
These rugs featured star-shaped medallions which extended vertically in the field. They usually contained simple patterned stripes. Yellow-colored rectangular patterns were also featured.
The Gedebey area also produced the Cheykend and Golbend type of Gendje oriental rugs.
CHAYLI
These rugs adopted some elements of the neighboring Shirvan rugs. An ancient figure called the Bendi-rumi can often be found. This figure is in the shape of a rhombus and is filled with geometric floral bouquets.
CHIRAGLI
These were medium quality rugs that were widely produced in other regions as well and could often be found labeled as Kazakhcha, Gendje, Fakhrali or Samkhor rugs.
SAMUKH
These are the oldest and the most popular of the Gendje oriental rugs and they differ in design from the others. A square located in the center of the field will have medium sized star-shaped medallions located above and below.
They are characteristic of Shirvan and Kuba rugs. Two basic elements found in these rugs are the val, a threshing board and the goosh, a bird.
SHADILI
These were also medium quality rugs. They were sometimes labeled as Kazak, Gendje, Caucasus, and Agstafa rugs as well.
CONSTRUCTION OF GENDJE ORIENTAL RUGS
Please continue reading here to learn about the construction of Gendje oriental rugs, the design, and more, complete with photos.
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PERSIAN GABBEH RUGS
The advent of Persian Gabbeh rugs (gah-BAY) from Iran into the Western market is relatively new, even though the earliest of these rugs were being woven in Persia as early as the 1500s. Fifty years ago, most rug enthusiasts had not even heard of them.
Gabbeh rugs are distinctive and relatively easy to recognize. This article is concerned with Persian Gabbeh rugs but today, the term Gabbeh is used broadly to describe modern-looking rugs, usually relatively thick, with a tribal nature from many different weaving countries.
Please note: There can be several different spellings of many of the rug names and places.
LOCATION
Gabbeh rugs have been woven for centuries by nomadic tribal weavers living in the Zagros Mountains region running along the Western border of Iran.
Southernmost tribes most associated with these rugs are the Qashqai and the Luri in the Fars province. They are also produced in the Northeastern province of Khorasson (Khorasan) around Meshed where the rugs are woven from undyed wool.
Other areas in Iran produce these rugs as well, such as the Kurds and Bakhtiari.
DESIGN OF PERSIAN GABBEH RUGS
The basic design of Persian Gabbeh rugs, whether antique or modern, is quite different from the classic Persian designs. These rugs have large open fields with just a few color combinations. Small motifs can be found placed throughout the field which can include birds, plants, animals, as well as human figures. The geometric design patterns are more modern-looking than their classic Persian counterparts.
Traditionally, Gabbeh rug weavers (usually the women) do not use a cartoon or pattern. The weaver will incorporate everyday life in her changing environment into the rug she is weaving. The overall design is usually simple and plain but it is always warm and creative. Each one is a piece of art which is the genuine creative expression of the individual weaver.
The modern Persian Gabbeh rugs have grown and evolved from the earlier ones and today they can often look like sophisticated abstract art. It is because of the unique quality of their designs that these rugs fit well into today’s modern interiors (though perhaps not as well in formal rooms).
The spontaneity and boldness of the design of these rugs have made them very popular.
COLORS of PERSIAN GABBEH RUGS
The natural dyes used by Gabbeh weavers give the colors a bold and vivid look.
Because these dyes are collected from natural sources such as madder root, walnuts, and other plants and insects of the region where they are woven, the natural irregularities in the dyes results in many color variations rather than uniform solid colors, giving these rugs their rich texture.
Some Persian Gabbeh rugs can be found with nothing more than variations of color in a field.
CONSTRUCTION of PERSIAN GABBEH RUGS
Although the common elements in the design of the Gabbeh help to identify the rug, the method of construction is very important as well.
The nomadic weaver’s life dictates that the loom must be able to be dismantled and set up easily in each new location and the incorporation of materials from each site (along with those taken with them) is also a necessity.
Traditional Persian Gabbeh rugs are woven on a horizontal ground loom. The difference in the materials found at each site often resulted in rugs that were slightly irregular in shape. It also meant the rugs had to be smaller in size for easy handling during moves.
The early rugs were rough and primitive and quickly woven for personal use in the tent. They were very coarse (the word Gabbeh comes from the Persian ‘raw,’ ‘rough,’ ‘coarse,’ etc.).
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ASSESSING THE VALUE OF HANDMADE RUGS
WHY ASSESS THE VALUE OF HANDMADE RUGS?
At ABC, we are asked to assess the value of handmade rugs, as well as machine-made rugs, on a daily basis. We have requests from clients to help them identify and determine the value of rugs they have bought, are looking to buy, or the ones they bring in or we have picked up to have cleaned in our plant.
These rugs can come from antique stores, garage sales, tag sales, auctions, thrift stores, rug dealers, relatives, even department stores.
The questions they most often ask are:
- Is this a machine-made rug or a handmade rug?
- If handmade, is it a true oriental rug?
- Is it worth cleaning, repairing, or even selling?
THE ACTUAL VALUE OF A HANDMADE RUG
We will always inform our customers if the cleaning of their rug will exceed its value. Sometimes, though, the dollar value is not as important as the sentimental value and we understand that.
The actual value of a handmade rug needs to be stated in the following context:
99.99% of all handmade rugs you see and those that are bought and cleaned today are actually what we call 'decorator rugs' and these rugs seldom appreciate in value.
Rugs can be bought at all different prices. Attaching an actual dollar value to a rug is the job of a Certified Appraiser. We would be happy to direct you to one of these professionals. Just call or text us at (607)-272-1566 or contact us here.
What most of our clients want to know is whether the rug they have or are interested in is a 'good deal' and we are happy to give them our best advice. When a customer asks us to give our opinion of the value of a rug, we are able to present a 'ballpark estimate' based on our combined years of knowledge of the rug industry.
At ABC we are always ready to offer advice but the best advice really is: If a rug calls out to you or 'speaks to you,' then you should most likely purchase it if you are able.
HANDMADE or MACHINE-MADE?
Common sense would dictate that a hand woven rug or even a machine-made rug made of wool in good condition would be more 'valuable' than one made of synthetic fibers. That is usually the case.
However, we have found that so many of our clients have no idea how to tell the difference between a handmade rug made of wool, silk, or cotton and a machine-made rug made of wool, cotton, nylon, olefin, polyester, etc.
It is our job to educate our customers about the rugs they want us to evaluate and this is what our staff has been trained to do.
WHAT IS the MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF RUG ID USED IN ASSESSING THE VALUE OF HANDMADE RUGS?
Please continue reading here for the answer to that question and more information, as well as videos on how to tell if a rug is handmade or machine-made, how to fold rugs, what KPSI is, and more.
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GREAT NEWS!
GOT QUESTIONS?
NOW YOU CAN TEXT US at
607-272-1566
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HERE ARE YOUR OCTOBER
FALL CLEANING SPECIALS...
30% OFF**
Bedroom Carpet Cleaning
When Cleaning LR and/or DR Carpet
**Open Areas Only
Furniture Moving not included in BR
&
20% In Plant Cash & Carry Discount
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130 Cecil Malone Drive
Ithaca, NY 14850
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