Edward Barsamian still handpicks each rug sold at Oriental Rug Importers in Lexington. He is the third generation of his family to own the shop.
(Kayana Szymczak for The Boston Globe)
On the Job
In rug trade, handshake still seals the deal
Edward Barsamian still handpicks each rug sold at Oriental Rug Importers in Lexington. He is the third generation of his family to own the shop.
(Kayana Szymczak for The Boston Globe)
The Oriental rug trade is traditionally passed from generation to generation in families. Edward Barsamian, 57, is the third-generation owner of Oriental Rug Importers in Lexington, having learned the business from his father by traveling to remote villages in Iran and established bazaars in Tehran to buy hand-woven rugs.
“It’s a very Old World industry, and a non-textbook business where you learn by observation and experience,’’ said Barsamian. “I was born into it; my father did it, and his father did it.’’
It’s no longer as necessary to travel overseas because brokers now act as middlemen between weavers and retailers. But Barsamian still handpicks each rug.
“I love these rugs for their beauty, durability, and timelessness,’’ said Barsamian. “The weave is someone’s interpretation of beauty and often reflects a philosophy of life.’’
Are consumers losing appreciation for handmade rugs in this mass-produced society?
We are bombarded with machine-made and quasi-handmade rugs, or rugs that look handmade but they’re not. It cheapens the product.
What sort of customers do you see?
Most of the time, our rugs add beauty and warmth to someone’s living or dining room. But we’ve also sold rugs as car mats because people feel they add pizzazz to their Mercedes, BMW, or Jaguar.
What’s your favorite rug?
The Persian Bijar. It has a classic design and colors, often a beautiful deep blue, soft rusty red, and accents of light green, blue, ivory, and rose. One pattern represents a turtle’s back holding up the world.
You still do business with suppliers your grandfather dealt with.
Yes, and it amazes me that even today, a deal is sealed with nothing more than a handshake.
Do you sell any magic carpets?
Now that gas prices are up to $4 a gallon, I think people wish there was such a thing.
© Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company.
