A tribute to time-honored designs, the Gem collection represents the true sophistication of Couristan. Its inspiration comes from the original rugs exhibited in museums around the world. These cherished patterns are artfully translated and updated into modern day masterpieces, making it possible to display Gem's beautiful designs in any home. Gem's masterpieces are woven of the finest 100% New Zealand semi-worsted wool. This high quality wool creates a dense, lustrous pile plus amazing design and color clarity. Couristan's exclusive locked-in-weave construction secures each individual strand of yarn into an upright position, creating a beautiful crystal-point finish. The result is a dramatic outline of each and every design and motif. The adornment of hand-knotted fringes makes Gem's beauty complete. Whether it is classic or contemporary, there is a Gem design for every room. Gem's comprehensive size range makes it possible to create a highly stylized look throughout the home.
Features:
- Woven in Belgium with 100% New Zealand semi-worsted wool pile
- Dense, lustrous pile with amazing design and color clarity and hand-knotted fringes
- Locked-in-weave construction to ensure a beautiful crystal-point finish
- Primarily classic ivory featuring caramel, navy blue, rose and teal accents
- Available in the following sizes: 2'2" x 4'9", 4'6" x 6'10", 5'3" x 8', 6'6" x 10'2", 7'10" x 10'6", 7'10" x 11'8", 9'9" x 14'1", Runner 2'2" x 9'3"
Category/Decorating Tip:
Vintage - The designs in this collection were inspired by world class museum quality area rugs. We updated them with colors for today. This collection would work well in Traditional/Formal settings, as well as, a more contemporary environment. In the selection of your fabrics on the more traditional side choose rich velvets, chenille's, damask, tapestries. On the contemporary side choose: woven textured solids or patterns, suede or leather.
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.