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RENAISSANCE RECREATES HISTORICAL
CARPETS AND TAPESTRIES
Bergi Andonian and Jeffrey Soleimani
By Janet Herlihy
NEW YORK -- Renaissance Carpet & Tapestries has built a unique reputation based on being able to replicate the original designs and quality of antique French carpets and tapestries as well as fine traditional rugs from other regions.
The name evokes the Renaissance era of the late 15th to
early 17th Century, when art, literature and architecture flowered in western Europe.
Established in 1989 by Jan Soleimani, president, and Bergi Andonian, vice president, Renaissance Carpets & Tapestries answers a need for new carpets and tapestries with the style and quality of classic antiques, according to Andonian.
The two partners brought expertise in the antique rug
business to Renaissance. Jan Soleimani started as a
dealer in the antique rug business in 1970 and
founded the Bokara Rug Co. in 1981. Andonian launched his first antique rug business in 1964.
Jan Soleimani is involved in major decision-making but the day-to-day operations of Renaissance are handled by Andonian and Jeffrey Soleimani, company director and vice president. Jeffrey Soleimani is Jan Soleimani's brother.
Jan Soleimani had the idea to produce French Aubussons in a way that would make them more affordable. "We took the production to China, starting with six looms from France,€VbCrLf said Andonian. Today, Renaissance is a partner in two factories in China.
Today, Renaissance has an inventory of more than 10,000 items consisting of over 1,000 programmed designs, including over 200 Savonneries with approximately 800 in stock.
Renaissance is well known for stocking over-size rugs, and offers clients customized products in special sizes and colors.
Renaissance also has a strong position in one-of-a-kind rugs, primarily natural vegetal dyed products.
The company has also expanded its line to include rugs in classic Persian designs from Pakistan and high quality Tabrizes from India. "We've been working on the Tabriz program for over a year and we will be showing them at the upcoming Atlanta market," said Jeffrey Soleimani.
"We are also known for our Sumaks from China and India as well as our heavy-weight Italian-inspired needlepoints from China," he added.
Authentic designs are developed for Renaissance by Philippe Hecquet, a French master designer and colorist of Aubusson weaves. He is also an heir to the
Manufacture D'Aubusson in France that was established
in 1762, and is the artistic director for Renaissance.
Renaissance is known for creating museum quality reproductions such as this Aubusson, 364-B
With Hecquet's access to many original, antique
Aubusson patterns and a sophisticated color sense,
he contributes mightily to the company's success by
creating rugs that are artworks of museum quality, Andonian noted.
Each Aubusson carpet or tapestry uses between 150 and
300 colors, while the Savonneries can contain as many as
450 shades. This gives the products depth of
color and detail, according to the company.
The wealth of knowledge and expertise of
Andonian, Hecquet and Soleimani helps to differentiate
Renaissance from other rug manufacturers, explained
Andonian.
"We have a background in antique carpets, the colors, designs and color combinations that gives us the ability to create today's masterpieces," he said.
"Our weavings represent some of the world's best talent, both past and present," added Jeffrey Soleimani. "As a result, we've bridged the old world with the new."
A Renaissance tapestry 2119 tells the story of a coronation in
vibrant color and detail.
"Renaissance offers only high-end, handmade rugs,€VbCrLf
he added. "We wanted to reinvent the best in
French carpets and tapestries and I believe we have succeeded.€VbCrLf
"There is a current surge in interest in classic reproductions because true antiques are now extremely expensive and many of them are worn and damaged,€VbCrLf explained Andonian.
A unique round Aubusson 292-RR by Renaissance.
"There has been a revival over the last 20 years of classic
styles. Today, Renaissance is making rugs that are the
antiques of tomorrow,€VbCrLf Andonian stressed.
Renaissance services a high-end market of rug specialists and design supply houses in the U.S. and internationally.
Renaissance recently installed a ceiling camera at company headquarters to better assist its world-wide customers with high-resolution photography of programmed or one of kind rugs and tapestries. "The technology we are using today was unheard of only a few years ago," said Soleimani.
"We also have extensive catalogues of our lines featuring the highest quality printing and photography."
Soleimani noted that for qualified, financially responsible customers, "we also offer a consignment to back up goods the client has already purchased."
Renaissance has also supplied a worldwide roster of museum and hotel interiors with classic French carpets and tapestries, demonstrating the company's ability to replicate antiques.
In 2001, the company was selected to reproduce
Savonneries for the apartments of the Palace of
Versailles in France, including carpets for Louis XV's
private bedchamber and Marie Antoinette's private
cabinet.
Other custom projects in France include rugs
for the Hotel Negresco in Nice, and the Chateau De
Viletti and the Chateau De Dree.
Renaissance exhibits at the Atlanta Rug Market and Domotex, Hannover, Germany, as well as at its New York
showroom.
| ED NOTE: Janet Herlihy is a Texas-based free-lance writer who frequently covers the rug and floor covering industry. She was formerly rug editor for HFN and editor in chief of Carpet & Rug Industry magazine. |
6.22.06
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