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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 1981)
A Oriental rugs provided shelter in nomad’s land By Cynthia Thomas Battalion Reporter Oriental rugs are more than just beautiful floor and wall coverings; they are historical works of art. The rugs were first used by the nomads of the east. Local Oriental rug dealer George Woods said nomads used the rugs to eat and sleep on, to carry their belongings and as saddle coverings. Woods said every rug has a specific meaning. Some rugs are used to tell the history of events or tribes of people. Others are used in religious ceremonies. Woods, owner of The Un- Common Art Shop at 3219 Texas Ave., has been in the Oriental rug business for 20 years. Through his shop, he buys and sells Oriental rugs and acts as broker for in terested clients. The rugs in his shop range from $30 to $240 for Oriental design rugs and from $25 to $1800 for the original Oriental rugs, with most selling for about $300. "Rug patterns used to de pict the history of the area wnere tne rugs were made," Woods said. "But today, peo ple are duplicating patterns so this is no longer true." The designs, which are car ried through ancestry, were made up by a master rugmak- er in charge of telling the others about the designs. Woods said. Original Oriental rugs are hand-knotted or tied, and woven on a loom, Woods said. Children used to make the rugs because they had nimble fingers, but this is no longer true because they must go to school. Oriental rugs are made in many of the countries of the East and Far East, including Greece, Turkey, Pakistan, China, Iran, Japan, India, and parts of Russia. The value of an Oriental rug depends on its age and the material used. Oriental rugs are considered new, semi-antique or antique, Woods said. "As a rule of thumb, I con sider any rug that is at least 50 to 100 years old to be semi antique. Anything older than 100 years is antique," he said. Most rugs are well-worn, but not "old," by the time they are 50 years old, unless they have been hanging on a wau. "There is no such thing as an old Oriental rug," he said. As they "mellow" through wear, the colors become muted and the rug more valu able. Some materials used in making Oriental rugs are lla ma, horse, and camel hair, but lamb's wool is the most popu lar, Woods said. Oriental design rugs, which are machine-made today, look very much like original Oriental rugs. They are often made of cotton, wool or a man-made material called oleflin. These rugs are manu factured in Bulgaria and in the United States. Woods suggested that any one interested in buying an Oriental rug should read ab out them first if they don't know anything about the rugs. A qualified dealer should be able to help deter mine the value and authentic ity of a rug, he said. But there is no fool-proof way to tell the Oriental design rug from an original. Experi ence is the only guide. 10% Discount With Current Student I.D. THE LOOKING GLASS 11 J|| < • Classes — Beginners & Advanced • Latest in equipment, supplies & techniques • Quantity discounts to qualifying non-profit organiza tions • Now accepting local finished crafts and art for exhibits & sale • Complete stained glass department 3601 E. 29th St., Bryan, 846-8103 OPEN MON.-FRI. 10-6 MV arm up lor tine game with Aggie jazz club By Nancy Weatherley Battalion Staff If you like to arrive at Kyle Field three hours before football games start in order to find a parking place, this weekend stop by the MSC Main Lounge instead of sitting with the birds on the third deck. The University Jazz Club, a campus organization whose members all share a love for big- band sound, will be performing in the MSC before the SMU game. "Most of the students really seem to enjoy it," said David Purcell, who plays the trumpet and is public relations director in the band. "Even though we're Purcell and Floyd Kaminski, a trombonist and secretary/ treasurer of the Jazz Club, said the band has been well received by the students and both hope students will continue to give the group feedback on their sound. "I can't say enough about the people, how they have warmly welcomed us and made us a rec ognized part of the University," Kaminski said. The 27-member group, struc tured like a big band, tries to play numbers that are popular with the audience, Kaminski said. "Not too many people know the finer points of music or jazz, and they can’t identify with the hard rhythms," he said. "The music varies; from bal lads to big-band, things like Glenn Miller did in the 1940's, from upbeat boogie to dow nright funk," Kaminski said. Purcell said the group is more into the entertainment business, so what they play isn't difficult, clinical jazz. "Jazz is a unique form of music, it's an interpretation of music and a feeling," Purcell said. "If you've got the feel for it, most of this music is easy enough and by seeing the music one time, you're as good at it as anyone else." The group considers them selves unique in the fact that they are student run. "We con duct the music, work out va rious parts, all ourselves," Kaminsld said. "The band is for everyone." Purcell said they aren't just a club, with officers conducting the business, but a musical group with everyone involved. Most of the members of the group have been in jazz prog rams during high school and have wanted to continue their music in college, Purcell said. "Some of the finest players we have in the band are young, still fresh out of high school and in shape," he said. "The more people we get like that, the bet ter we're going to be." Purcell said just because someone who plays a particular instrument sees the band has a person in that place already, it doesn't mean they can't join the group. "We're still a club of all jazz musicians,” he said. The group has plans to play at all the home football games this year, and if you can't catch them there, they practice every Mon day night in the Commons Lounge. IVe offer a full variety of mixed drinks, domestic and imported beers, and a menu of sandwiches, salads, steaks and oysters. NOW OPEN SUNDAY 5 p.m.-ll p.m. woodstone commerce center —■ on hwy. 30