Couristan - Silken Treasures Gabbeh/Aubergine Rug

The Silken Treasures collection draws its inspiration from the brilliant textiles, exotic artifacts and ancient buildings that graced the landscape of China's ancient trade route, "Silk Road" during the period of the 4th to the 10th centuries. Designed with texture, fiber and color interest in mind, this hand-knotted collection's pile is created of a blend of 80% Virgin wool and 20% Natural silk. This unique blending of fibers provides the collection's pile with a velvety soft hand and a subtle sheen. Beautifully textured, each of the collection's five delicately detailed patterns are carefully colored in earthtones for a timeless elegance that will lend warmth and comfort to any traditional or contemporary room-setting in the home.

Features:

• Hand-knotted in China with 80% virgin wool, 20% natural silk pile
• Unique blending of fibers provides collection's pile with a velvety soft hand and a subtle sheen
• Earthtone color scheme for a timeless elegance and sophisticated warmth
• Primarily aubergine featuring cinnamon, cognac, light mauve, mint, sky blue and spiced mustard accents
• Available in the following sizes: 2'6" x 4'6", 3'6" x 5'6", 5'6" x 8', 8' x 11', Runner 2'2" x 8'

Category/Decorating Tip:

Casual Elegance - These bold monochromatic colored area rugs are designed to complement fabrics that are vividly colored. Do not be afraid to mix fabrications with this collection as it will only help to enhance the total look of the room.

Note: Please be aware that actual colors may vary from those shown on your screen. Accent rugs may also not show the entire pattern that the corresponding area rugs have. Additionally, rugs 8' x 10' and larger may ship Truck Freight.

About Couristan

For over 75 years Couristan, Inc. has been a powerful name in the area rug and broadloom industry. Owned by the Couri family for two generations and operated today by brothers George G. Couri, Chairman and Ron J. Couri, CEO and President, the company prides itself on having the most exquisite handmade and power-loomed floor coverings available from anywhere around the world.

Founded in 1926 by brothers Basil J. Couri and George J. Couri, and appropriately named "Couri Brothers," the company began its humble beginnings by importing fine handmade area rugs from Persia. According to Ron Couri, Couristan's CEO and President, importing area rugs from Persia was a difficult task. "I remember listening to my father and uncle's travel stories. First they took a ship to England, then another to the continent. Once in Europe they took the Orient Express and then drove through the desert to Persia. They finally arrived 32 days later. It was quite an adventure."

The first area rugs imported by the company were a few shipments of Sparta Rugs from Smyrna. At the time, the company began affixing "Couristan" trademark labels to the back of each and every rug it imported. This mark was composed from the family's surname "Couri" and the frequently used suffix "stan", referring to the region of small weaving villages in which the company imported its rugs from. The company would quickly begin to broaden its horizons, as well as its area rug offerings by importing rugs from India in 1927.

In the 1930's, Couristan began importing handmade hooked rugs from China and braided rugs from Japan. At the time nearly 99 percent of the total production of Japan's floor coverings were being exported to the United States. According to Ron Couri, Couristan was regarded as one of the country's largest importers of Japanese braided rugs from the 1930's to the 1960's. During that time there wasn't much of a market for Oriental-design products in the United States, but through Couristan's ingenuity and extensive design development, the company was able to create a substantial marketplace for handmade Oriental area rugs.