The Anka Cooperative, a social enterprise in association with US rug producer woven legends, is turning to kickstarter to improve the lives of even more refugee women. The project was founded in 2012, and empowers Syrian refugees through the creation of fine carpets and traditional crafts. At the moment Anka works with 250 weavers in two camps in Turkey. The operation's mission is to empower and educate over 20,000 refugees by the year 2020. The first step towards this ambitious goal is a kickstarter campaign, where all proceeds will be used to further Anka's mission. In exchange for pledges, backers can receive gorgeous carpet coasters, framed carpet fragments, handwoven Christmas stockings, and the rugs themselves.

To celebrate the Persian New Year a special lecture by Dr Hadi Maktabi will take place on 6th April 2017 at the V&A London. One of the worlds finest collections of Persian carpets is the Imam Reza shrine in Mashad, Iran. This is of paramount historic importance, because the shrine holdings were built up over centuries through pious donations, including Safavid and Mughal carpets gifted by major patrons such as Shah Abbas I (1571-1629) and many later rulers. Nonetheless this wonderful collection of rugs and carpets remains largely unpublished. This lecture describes the recent establishment in Mashad of new museum facilities, and Dr Maktabi's role there as an adviser. His lecture will be fully illustrated, with new images of the shrine's most beautiful and historic rugs and carpets.

A major exhibition, Serenissime Trame: Carpets and Rugs and Renaissance Paintings; opens on Thursday 23rd March 2017 at the Galleria Giorgio Franchetti alla Ca'd'Oro in Venice. Curated by Claudia Cremonini, Moshe Tabibnia and John Valagussa, Serenissime Trame is the first museum presentation of antique oriental rugs and carpets from the Zaleski Collection, with 25 loan examples from this important collection, probably the most complete in the world, together with three from the historic Franchetti collection, which have been conserved for permanent display in the Venetian museum. Organised by the Museum Centre of Veneto and the Tassara Foundation of Brescia, the event is a tribute to the collecting passion of Baron Giorgio Franchetti, patron and founder of the state museum of Ca'd'Oro, whose own interests included oriental rugs and carpets as part of a love of decorative arts. Imperial Threads: Motifs and Artisans from Turkey, Iran and India; the current exhibition at the Museum of Islamic art in Doha, Qatar (15th March-4th November 2017), brings a new perspective to the MIA's remarkable permanent collection by illuminating the connections between the major dynasties at the start of the early modern period in Islamic art (16th-19th century).

On 5th April 2017, Bonhams of London will launch a groundbreaking new, twice-yearly sale: Important Design. This concept brings together high-quality pieces spanning the past 500 years of Decorative Arts including Oriental rugs and carpets. From Renaissance to Art Nouveau, from East to West, each object will be carefully selected by the Bonhams team of specialists to reflect the innovative design and craftsmanship of the astonishing array of artists who flourished during this period. And representing the carpet weaving world is a very  impressive 19th century Persian Silk Tabriz carpet. www.orientalrugexperts.com

This year Baku hosts the 5th International Symposium on Azerbaijan carpets; Traditions and Innovations, running from 17th-29th October 2017. Also along side this event the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum 22nd-24th May 2017, will host the 2nd International Symposium of the Common Language of the Turkic World-Patterns. Back in London the Oriental Rug Centre has seen a busy start to the year, and along with new rugs and carpets arriving from Iran (Persia) and Afghanistan the selection is one of the best in the world. David J.Wilkins Oriental Rug Experts has found a shift in sales, back from modern abstract rugs to the finer traditional Persian carpets. It seems quality once again is taking the lead, and not before time, in the long run these customers and there families will benefit from choosing a high quality handmade Persian rug or carpet.

London's Oriental Rug Centre has just received a new shipment of wonderful Persian Sultanabad carpets. They range in size from 3.50m x 2.50m right up to a magnificent 5.50m x 4.oom, and we have a very unusual piece which measures 5.00m x 4.40m, a photo of this carpet can be seen on our social media outlets. We pride our self's on having regular fresh stock arriving direct from Persia (Iran) and Afghanistan as well as from other rug and carpet producing countries, so give us a call and come and see our huge selection of handmade rugs and carpets. Tel: 0207 722 7608. www.orientalrugexperts.com

David J.Wilkins Oriental rug experts has received there first shipment of 2017, including a fine selection of old and new Persian rugs and carpets. Customers both old and new are invited to London's Oriental Rug Centre to view the vast selection of Handmade rugs and carpets from all the major carpets weaving countries of the world. We have rugs to suit most budgets, but also cater for the client who's looking for that special super fine Persian silk or maybe a huge size for there stately home. call us to discuss your requirements Tel: 0207 722 7608 www.orientalrugexperts.com.

The London Telegraph has reported an astonishing find. Academic Ms Mary Beard stumbled upon a priceless set of King Henry VIII tapestries, there were being offered for sale in a Persian rug shop in New York. The large tapestries depict scenes from the life of Julius Caesar, and were recognised by Ms Beard as one of a set of 10 tapestries that were commissioned by King Henry VIII at the height of his power.  

From all of us at David J.Wilkins Oriental rug experts we would like to wish all of our customers both past and present a very happy Christmas. We will be open at the Oriental rug centre London, right up to December 24th (Christmas eve). So if your looking for a very special and unique present, then give us a call on: 0207 722 7608, to view our vast selection of handmade rugs and carpets.www.orientalrugexperts.com The London antique rug and textile art fair will be open on 24th-29th January, at its new venue in Battersea London, which will include some of the top dealers in the country.

Domotex Asia, the leading flooring show in Asia Pacific, will take place in Shanghai, China on 23rd March 2017. It is the 19th edition of the fair, with more than 600 rug and carpet manufacturers from over 20 countries showcasing their rugs and carpets in five halls with a gross exhibition area of more than 60,000 sqm. Every year over 50,000 trade visitors from more than 100 countries gather to scout the latest innovations and best designs in the flooring industry. With rugs and carpets taking up the largest share of all flooring sectors, Domotex Asia/Chinafloor is a platform not-to-be-missed by rug and carpet dealers that want to grow their business in Asia. Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers are starting the Christmas season with a major international auction of art, antiques and design. The auction features a fine range of fine rugs, carpets and tapestries, and among the highlights is an exceptional Persian silk Kashan carpet. The auction will tale place on Wednesday 30th November at Bredgade 33 in Copenhagen.