Carpet book

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This book is a lively and captivating story about Oriental carpets and rugs, what they are and what it takes to make one.

The book is for anyone interested in interior decoration, design, handicraft and, of course, Oriental carpets and rugs. The book is brought to life by more than 650 pictures and illustrations.

This light, yet informative text presents the reader to the history of Oriental carpets, a comparison of current and old production methods and to today’s carpet market. However, the book also includes captivating stories about exceptional deals worth millions, the creation of the world’s largest carpet measuring over 5,600 square metres. Last but not least, the personal experience of the family and author with the nomads and villages far out in the Iranian countryside.

The book is for anyone who owns an Oriental carpet or plans to acquire this beautiful specimen of handicraft. It will provide a potential carpet buyer with the information needed to avoid the numerous pitfalls on the market.

The author, Martin Munkholm, has practically grown up in a carpet shop. Oriental carpets have thus been a natural part of his life since childhood. As a 16-year-old, Martin worked as a shepherd in England for three months. He then learned the trade of carpet merchant in Hamburg, at one of the largest wholesale businesses for Persian carpets at that time.

He was the president of Brancheforeningen For Orientalske Tæpper 2009 – 2016 (the Danish Association for Oriental Carpets and Rugs) and has lectured at university level on the subject of Iranian carpets. He has participated in several interviews and TV programmes on Iranian television. Martin and his family are also the creators of the documentary ‘Authentic Oriental Carpet Love’, which was broadcast on the Danish station dk4. He has also appeared as expert of the night on KONTANT, a consumer programme on Danish national television, and he is a proficient speaker.

Librarian’s review (excerpt):

This compelling book on Persian carpets is an excellent reference book and a very informative read for anyone interested in Oriental carpets. It is for both beginners and specialised collectors.

An impressive, comprehensible, fact-filled modern book that captures the author’s extensive knowledge and passion about Oriental carpets. History, social factors, people and carpets are wonderfully weaved together by the author, and the reader will gain an understanding of how to assess Oriental carpets.

To my knowledge, there is nothing available in Danish that offers the same depth when it comes to Iranian carpets.

The book is recommended for most libraries.

Thomas Ry Andersen


Documentary film about Persian rugs

In the program, the documentary “In love with Persian carpets”, the TV station DK4 gives you all the history of the Munkholm family’s history, and at the same time Martin Munkholm invites on a carpet tour to Iran. Here he visits workshops and working nomads on the plains to give an insight into the extensive work that lies behind a true authentic Persian carpet – from the sheep being cut, over spinning and dyeing of the yarns and knotting, until the carpet is washed and ready for sale.

Lecture

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Lectures on Persian carpets and rugs by Martin Munkholm, President for the Association for Carpets & Rugs in Denmark (2009-2016).

A review of the entire process, from when a sheep is first sheared through to when a carpet is finished and ready to be enjoyed. Participants gain insight into the shearing of sheep, see how wool is spun, how the yarn is dyed, how the carpet is crafted and washed. The participants will watch films and see photos of the family Munkholm’s adventurous travels in Iran. Martin Munkholm and his sister Helle Munkholm enjoy visiting the nomadic peoples and the folk of the countryside.

A wide range of carpets and rugs are presented during the lecture. Including: nomadic carpets, village carpets, workshop carpets, silk carpets, old carpets, new carpets, carpets of superior-quality and fake carpets.

Martin Munkholm has also given lectures at the Ardekan University in Iran which specialises in Rug Art and handcrafts.

The lectures maintain a lively atmosphere of open audience participation with a question and answer period.

There is a discussion of the pitfalls which exist when entering the market as a potential carpet buyer. With his background as an apprentice at the Freeport of Hamburg, at one of the largest wholesalers of Persian carpets, Martin Munkholm has first-hand experience of the various market providers dealing in Oriental carpets and rugs, from the smallest individual dealer to the specialty stores and department store chains. Because of this extensive experience, in 2004. Martin Munkholm was selected as the evening’s expert on the Danish Radio consumer program DR KONTANT, as their focus was on Oriental carpets. He stands behind the documentary IN LOVE VITH AUTHENTIC PERSIAN RUGS, and in collaboration with Muusmann’s publisher, he published the famous book, ORIENTAL RUGS KNOTTET WITH LOVE

Lecture duration can be adjusted as desired.