Xinjiang - where to find old and antique rugs
27 February 2004, Ivan Soenderholm
Jozan Magazine has asked
a local Kashgar dealer, Elvis Ablimit Ghopor, questions about sale of old
and antique rugs in Xinjiang.
The Kashgar border to Pakistan opened in 1986, says Elvis Ablimit
Ghopor to Jozan Magazine. Pakistani collectors bought the best antique
carpets the first 6-10 years and not many carpets were bought by western
buyers. These Pakistani collectors went from house to house all around Kashgar and Yarkand, Khotan , Kucha , Yining and
Altai and nearly bought all the antique rugs to very low prices.
Even now they are working hard to discover our old carpets, says Elvis
Ablimit. They arrive
each year first of may and continue until October.
It is hard to find
antique carpets in good condition and the Chinese custom does not allow
shipment of torn and damaged carpets. Most antique carpets are damaged and
professional repair must take place in Beijing.
Collectors from all over Xinjiang come to the Kashgar Sunday Market to
sell their rugs. Most new and old carpets are brought to Kashgar Sunday
Market and not to Khotan. The reason is that far more tourists are
visiting Kashgar than Khotan. The sale of old carpets at the Sunday Market
in Kashgar is dominated by a single rug dealer who has more than 15
employees collecting rugs from all over Xinjiang.
Be aware that some of
the "old" carpets sold in Xinjiang are fake copies, says Elvis
Ablimit to Jozan Magazine.
Your readers are welcome to contact me on email
if they have questions, he continues.
