Happy New Year!
It's late January.
This year, I'm determined to update much more frequently, so please bear with me.
Thank you in advance for your continued support.
---
Now, about something that happened a little while ago.
A friend was going rug shopping for her home, so I tagged along.
We arrived at a warehouse a little ways from the city center, which belonged to Mr. Sakaki, who has been collecting tribal rugs for over 30 years.
Even now, he visits Iran, Morocco, and Southwest Asia several times a year.
In Japan, he’s invited to galleries nationwide to give talks.
He is truly a person who has dedicated his life to "ethnic textiles."
According to Mr. Sakaki, the definition of a tribal rug is "something born as a practical tool for nomads."
Beyond being mere vintage items, these rugs hold a value that leads to them being traded at auctions among collectors worldwide.
It feels somewhat similar to the world of Navajo rugs, doesn't it?
Mr. Sakaki thoroughly explains each rug, not only its patterns and weaves but also the spinning method of the yarn and the types of dyes used.
He was also very kind to me, even though I forgot my role as a friend's companion and eagerly leaned forward to ask questions (lol).
I wondered who wove it,
what conversations they had while making it,
what their day was like.
As I imagined the lives of these nomads, Mr. Sakaki's knowledge, which he shared along with historical facts, was truly immense.
After four hours of listening intently, the weight of his words resonated deeply with me:
"When I encountered carpets, it sparked a desire in me to learn many different things.
I consider myself very lucky for that."
I wonder if you just know, the moment you encounter something, that you're going to dedicate your life to it.
An eye-opening revelation: How to lay rugs
Is it just me, or did I not appreciate Persian carpets at all in the past?
But ever since I hit my 30s, I've suddenly been drawn to them.
It's like I'm seeing a romance in them that I couldn't perceive in my 20s.
One day, while having tea with Mr. Sakaki, he showed me some old interior design magazines.
"Hmm, everyone seems to use rugs so well..." I wondered, tilting my head, "What's different?"
He then explained, "Japanese people tend to place rugs under tables and sofas, but those who understand the value of these textiles don't usually lay them out that way.
They lay them in front of bookshelves, in hallways, or in ways that allow them to enjoy the beautiful patterns in their daily lives.
It's a waste to hide them with furniture."
Ohhh, I see!
When he said that, it truly made sense. In stylish interiors that caught my eye, rugs were often laid in spaces without furniture.
For example, like this:
Looking at it from that perspective again, it's clear how much love is poured into the rugs.
It was truly an eye-opening moment; I realized I could have just laid them out freely, without worrying about tables or sofas!
I want to erase my past self who loudly declared, "I want people to enjoy textiles more!" (lol).
It was I who was bound by rules.
Since that day,
whenever I encounter an interior that uses rugs in such a way,
I silently think, "Oh, that's nice."
The villa of writer Yumiko Sakuma, to whom I gifted a quilt as a thank-you for her help in NY, also comes to mind.
Also, during an Instagram patrol, I found that Yuriko Ishida's home was quite lovely.
(Personally, I'm sending telepathic messages for more interior design content, rather than just cats.)
Screenshot from: https://www.instagram.com/yuriyuri1003/?hl=ja
"When you have something beautiful, just looking at it enriches your heart," Mr. Sakaki said.
On the way home, I remembered all the fabrics and rugs I had bought on business trips, much to my husband's exasperation.
First, from those that are currently stacked in a corner of the living room...
In 2019,
I want to explore more ways to enjoy textiles.
posted by A. Imoto
Related Articles:
2018/8/24 UP
≫"Overflowing with Patchwork Love"
2017/6/30 UP
≫"How Wonderful"
2018 / 3 / 2 UP
≫"Indigo Addict"