Recent Bokhara-purchase

And this is the last carpet for now, an auction-purchase from Stockholm last week (odd, yes!, considering...).But we liked the grey and the raspberry-red centre-medallion. Usually medallion carpets have much more and confusing patterns on them, but this feels very sober and elegant.

A find from Teheran

This Bokhara-Bakhtiari-Turkmen piece (yes, my receipt for it, confusingly tells me all of these ... ;-) ) I bought in Teheran 2 1/2 years ago. It was the first carpet I ever bought, actually, so it has a special place in my heart. I also especially thought of the apartment we were preparing to move into at the time.



But on the other hand, you should never buy a carpet that has not found it's way in there!

Afghan camp

My parents bought this carpet 25 years ago, in an Afghan refugee camp outside Peshawar. It only recently came into our home. I suppose it was also made in the Peshawar camp environment, unless it was brought from Afghanistan of course... Later Afghans I have seen also have imagery from the war, with recognizable helicopters and anti-aircraft weapons - a quirky development of the art...

This piece has the typical colouring and octagonal "elephant feet"-pattern. For me, this is probably the archetypical CARPET, even if I am learning to appreciate more tribal designs. I have yet to acquire the taste for finer pieces, like Nains, though - but maybe that is just as well! ;-)

Back to the carpets!

Yes, now I have some more photos to show you. This is the small Usak cicim that I gave my husband as a present earlier this year (bought at the same time as the Luri camel bag I showed).



I am personally not wild about the green and orange in the border zone, but the purplish zigzag centre-pattern is very nice. And he loves it!

My next buy will still probably be a Bakhtiari camel bag... Watch out for more in days to come!

Asplund's library

Today it's time to show you a Stockholm landmark - the Stockholm City Public Library from the 30's by Gunnar Asplund. I find the Rotunda centre-piece awesome!

My respects to a deceased photographer

On Friday, a Swedish press photographer was killed in Mogadishu. I didn't know this man, our paths never crossed. But I would like to pay tribute to his memory and his courage. His passion for showing the world images of what was really going on in innumerable war-zones of the world enriched me. A picture says more than a thousand words. But somebody also has to take the picture and show it to us in our living rooms. Martin Adler did that. And our world is all the poorer now, for his being killed while doing so. We depended on his courage for our understanding. And now we depend on the continued undiminished courage of his colleagues.

Dear carpet-lovers!

We bought a new Bokhara yesterday actually - I wish I could show you pictures NOW. It looks unusual to my fairly untrained eye, a grayish-dominated piece with a centre-medallion surrounded by a full red field. I promise to show it to you, along with the rest of the carpets soon, though...

Furry friends

A recent doggy friend of mine!

Media recommendations

I want to recommend my favourite radio program on international and current affairs, accessible at least to all of you who understand Swedish. Konflikt, is broadcast every Saturday morning at 9 on Swedish Radio's P1-programme. The programme frequently features current developments in the Middle East and with prominent Swedish and international commentators voicing their opinions. The theme of this morning, when it was broadcast live from the Re:orient-festival, was music, politics and censorship.

I have long held the 1 1/2 hourlong weekly broadcast to be of Sweden's most talented and creative media scenes, and cannot speak highly enough of it!

Re:orient

A tradition is underway this week - a tradition I had to break last year. The annual Re:Orient-festival takes place in Stockholm this weekend, for probably about the 15th time.

I am going to Anouar Brahem tonight and to Yasmin Levy on Sunday. And then to some panels and things on Saturday. Tomorrow is busy with other things. See you there!

Ortaköy in the dark

You've seen it before, it is one of the most easily photographed mosques in Istanbul, largely due to the lovely exterior and location.

Twilight zone?

The Bosphorus in the dusk.





I am sorry for being away from blogging for so long. I hope to make up for it later on, though...