About
us
We
are a full service
rug firm.
Reliable worldwide service.
Four decades trading underwritten
by source research.
Founder, Oriental Rug
Society of Queensland.
Member, The Oriental Rug
Society of NSW Inc.
"I slowly but surely
became cognizant that
here was an under-appreciated
art form existing alongside,
but very different from
the imperial western
view of Fine Art. I discovered
the art of women, of
village, tribe and family
and this textile art
spoke directly to me.
I was astounded by the
power of this discovery
and found my life's passion".
Milton Cater, himself, is a product of a 1950's jazz/modern artistic Gold Coast, Australian household and first became aware of the beauty of old carpets as a young man touring Europe in 1972. Where, luckily, a Copenhagen specialist dealer taught him the basics. He found he was moved more by the anonymous carpets in Chateau and Schloss than by the signed paintings in Tuilleries and Tate. Milton later was to return to Australia via Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan buying and learning more in the baazars. His friends and family quickly bought these first rare old, and cheap! oriental carpets as there was not a single specialist dealer locally at the time. (subsequent trips involved researching the "tribes" of south and N.W. Iran, Kurdistan and W. Afghanistan)
From these innocent beginnings through the first edition of Hali, (The International Magazine of Carpet and Textile Art) the Lefevre sales, O.R.R Antiques Fairs etc... Through the profound growth in recognition of the aesthetics of antique textile arts in general, to today's savvy international network clientele committed to research, study and commerce.
Through the writing of Dr. Ali Shariati (and many Persian pro-change friends) Milton became politicised and was one of the few westeners allowed into Iran during the "hostage crisis", was in Herat during the early insurgency, and deplores the continuing loss of the last vestiges of traditional knowledge of that great Central Asian pastoral culture.
TO SEE MAPS click the following: Iran Afghanistan Turkey Central Asia
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| Cold work? No. Recycled Russian mink helps. | Hectic Peshawar: | |
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| Honest old rug, a bit thin on top, but with years of wear left. | This is a family business with Anne, Alexander Akbar, Nicholas Jamil, and Maxwell Sulaman all involved. Pic shot 10 years ago! | |
Playing dress-ups with a 1960's fine Esfahan |
A Turkoman Yurt and Milton the Tourist |
Testimonial - Sales
"I
would like to recommend
a dealer in Australia
to you who has
an excellent web
page.
I have personally
bought rugs from
him and have been
satisfied in every
respect: provenance,
condition, representation
and price. I
think you will
find his information
and presentation
very informative
and professional."
K.Hodges, USA retired
judge, mailing to an
Australian ruggie.
Testimonial - Repairs
Thankyou for a
wonderful job.
Certainly all my
work will be going
your way from now
on."
Anne
Carter, Director, Flinders
Gallery (Fine
Art, Antique Prints & Oriental
Rugs)
Testimonial
I just loved your
site. I am thinking
of starting up
an internet business
and after spending
two hours of searching
found your inspirational
site. Thanks again
for a visually
and mentally stimulating
site."
Melissa
Testimonial
"Hello,
Wonderful site.
I added your name
and a link to our
recommended dealers
list.
Best wishes, Barry
Forever Trading!!!
