130 Cecil Malone Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850
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HAPPY NEW YEAR
2021 is ABC's 50th Year in Business!!
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Welcome to Our Monthly Newsletter
This month's topics are:
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
- Bacteriophages-Good Viruses!
ORIENTAL RUGS REVISITED
- Bokhara Oriental Rug Design
MISCELLANEOUS
CONSIGNMENT RUGS FOR SALE REMINDER
REGULAR CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DISCOUNTS-RCAD
If there is a topic you would like us to cover in one of our upcoming newsletters, please call us at:
607-272-1566
or contact us
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REMINDER:
Don't forget to keep checking our website for our beautiful
We have even more new rugs hanging!
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BACTERIOPHAGES
THE GOOD VIRUSES!
Bacteriophages are good viruses! Yes, there are good viruses and there are bad viruses and then there are very bad viruses such as the one causing COVID-19.
Most of us would not like to entertain the thought that some viruses are actually good and useful. After all, the word ‘virus’ comes from the Latin, literally meaning ‘slimy liquid’ or ‘poison.’
WHAT EXACTLY IS A VIRUS and
HOW DOES IT CAUSE ILLNESS?
Viruses, for the most part, are nasty little organisms. In biological terms, they are relatively simple, consisting of nothing more than bits of genetic material wrapped in a protein coat.
Since viruses can reproduce, which is the hallmark of life, one would think they would be classified as living creatures. However, there is debate about this because they cannot reproduce on their own.
Since viruses cannot reproduce on their own, they must insert their genetic material into a cell’s reproductive machinery, forcing it to crank out more viruses. As the viral load builds up, the host cells are altered or killed, causing illness.
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In This Issue
Consignment Rugs for Sale Reminder-We have added more rugs!
Bacteriophages -Good Viruses
Bijar Oriental Rugs
Bokhara Oriental Rug Design
Stephen Collins Foster
Regular Customer Appreciation Discounts
(RCAD)
Links to Our Services:
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ABC Oriental Rug & Carpet Cleaning Co. has been family-owned and operated in Ithaca and surrounding areas for 50 years!
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The type of illness that ensues depends on the sort of virus. Some can be just annoying with conditions such as warts, the common cold, or chicken pox. But others can devastate health by triggering smallpox, rabies, cervical cancer, AIDS, and of course, COVID-19.
BACTERIOPHAGES
THE GOOD VIRUSES
Bacteriophages are viruses that only attack bacteria. These are the good viruses. The word, bacteriophage was coined by the person credited for their discovery, Felix D’Herelle, from the Greek ‘phagein,’ meaning ‘to eat.’
Bacteriophages can only multiply and grow inside a bacterium. Once all the bacteria are dead, they will stop multiplying. And like other viruses, phages can lay dormant (in hibernation) until more bacteria show up.
Human cells do not have receptors for these viruses, so we cannot be infected. We are actually exposed to bacteriophages all the time. They are found wherever bacteria are found, in the soil, in our water, in our food. They are the natural enemies of bacteria and help keep bacteria growth in check in nature.
FELIX d'HERELLE's DISCOVERY
Somehow, with no formal education, the remarkable French-Canadian Felix d’Herelle, managed to set up a laboratory in his home and to train himself as a microbiologist. He pursued several interests, including the development of yeast strains to make cheap whisky from rotting fruit. His major discovery came when he was working as a volunteer at the Pasteur Institute in Paris where he was asked to investigate an epidemic of dysentery that was raging in a cavalry squadron.
d’Herelle didn’t know exactly how dysentery was spread, but suspected that it was through fecal matter. He took samples from the soldiers, placed these in a filter with microscopic pores, and passed water through. The idea was to see if the filtered deposits contained any sort of infectious agent.
Much to d’Herelle’s surprise, not only was the liquid free of any such substance, but when mixed into a bacterial culture, it caused the formation of clear spots, indicative of bacterial destruction. d’Herelle understood that what caused the clear spots was in fact an invisible microbe which was a virus parasitic on bacteria.
BACTERIOPHAGE THERAPY BEGINNINGS
d’Herelle suggested that the microscopic particles he called bacteriophages could be used to treat bacterial infections in humans and animals. George Eliava, a colleague of d’Herelle’s at the Pasteur Institute, invited d'Herelle to return to his native Georgia (Russia) and set up a ‘bacteriophage’ institute. The resulting Eliava Institute has become a world leader in bacteriophage therapy, producing a great deal of research which, unfortunately, has basically been ignored in the West.
Bacteriophage therapy, therefore, is not new and has been used for years. However, the treatment isn’t well known in the US and more research is needed. This type of therapy to destroy disease-causing bacteria may be useful as an alternative to antibiotics to fight antibiotic resistance or in conjunction with antibiotics to fight certain diseases.
Although there are some concerns that viral proteins may cause allergies or that the viruses may affect some of the beneficial bacteria in our gut, there is not yet clear evidence of this.
ANTIBIOTICS vs. BACTERIOPHAGE THERAPY
Please continue reading here for further information on this subject, as well as information about the current use of bacteriophages in our food supply as a defense against certain food-related bacteria such as Listeria and E. coli, etc.
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THE BIJAR ORIENTAL RUG
The design of the Persian Bijar oriental rug is not as easily identified by the repetitive use of the same patterns as is the case with many other oriental rugs.
The diversity in the range of designs in these rugs can be attributed to the many different tribes that call this region home, including the Azerbaijanis and the Turks, as well as the influence of nearby neighboring countries such as Turkey and the Caucasus mountain areas.
Bijar designs are not as affected by Western design as other rugs woven in Iran, partly because of the remoteness of the rural mountainous area and partly because the particular religion and culture of the people has effectively isolated them from the rest of Iran.
The antique Bijar (woven prior to 1915) used some classic universal rug designs such as the Mina Khani and the Herati, as well as a diamond-shaped center medallion with pendants on an open field. It is important to note these classic Persian designs were subject to the interpretation of the Bijar weavers, especially those from the Kurdish villages in the region.
The antique Bijar oriental rug is known for its excellent artistry, dyes, construction, and craftsmanship, while those made after WWII gradually lost their quality and unique individual characteristics and morphed into a generic product that bears little resemblance to its revered predecessor.
LOCATION OF BIJAR
Bijar is located in Northwestern Iran in the province of Kurdistan, approximately 150 miles south of Tabriz and 90 miles NW of Hamadan.
The Bijar rugs were and are produced in the villages in the surrounding area. Kurdish tribes have been dominant in this region for centuries.
The name Bijar comes from the Kurdish 'Bi' meaning willow tree. An area of willow trees is called a 'Bijar.'
ANTIQUE BIJAR ORIENTAL RUG DISTINGUISHING FEATURE
What distinguishes the antique Bijar from other Persian rugs is its unique construction. Weavers used 2-3 wefts (foundation yarns inserted from side to side) between each row of knots. The first weft was much thicker than the second and was highly twisted. It was inserted while damp and then pounded tightly down with a hammer and a nail-like iron rod inserted between the warps, resulting in a highly compressed and durable rug.
It was this type of stout construction that earned the antique Bijar oriental rug the nickname of the 'iron rug' of Persia' (Iran). The unique construction contributed to the extraordinary strength, coarseness, and weight of the rugs, making them very durable. In fact, they cannot and should not be folded and should always be rolled for storage or transporting.
MODERN BIJAR ORIENTAL RUGS
To continue reading about the Bijar oriental rug as well as what to look for in modern Bijars, please continue reading here.
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BOKHARA ORIENTAL RUG DESIGN
BOKHARA RUGS (Bohkara) (Bukhara) (Bukhoro)
The Bokhara oriental rug design, as with the Hamadan and Heriz oriental rug designs, consists of an an easily recognizable pattern.
However, the same caveats must be repeated as with other oriental rugs:
- The way to accurately identify a handwoven oriental rug is not just from the design, but from the way it is woven and the materials used.
- Many countries produce rugs with designs that may copy another country's rug.
- Because of the individual nature of hand-woven rugs, we can study the most common examples (and there will be variations!) but we must be aware there are many exceptions to every example and the terms 'always' and 'never' cannot be used when it comes to the study of oriental rugs and their designs.
The term 'Bokhara' does not so much refer to a particular rug as it does to a particular design. The name, Bokhara, comes from an ancient city in the area known as Turkestan. Located on the famous Silk Road, Bokhara has long been a center of trade, scholarship, culture, and religion. It was an important shipping center in the 19th century and rugs sold commercially through the city of Bokhara were simply designated as 'Bokhara rugs.'
BOKHARA ORIENTAL DESIGN
The unique Bokhara oriental design originated with nomadic Central Asia Turkmen tribesmen, primarily the Tekke, whose wanderings took them east of the Caspian Sea and north of Iran.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the nomadic Turkmen tribes clashed with the Russian government which wanted to forcibly subdue them. As a result, the way of life of these tribes changed drastically as did the production of Turkmen Bokharas.
Fortunately, the Turkmen tribes who continued to wander in Northern Iran kept the weaving tradition and many settled in Afghanistan.
MODERN BOKHARA ORIENTAL DESIGN RUGS
Bokhara rugs continue to be woven by the nomadic tribes of people in Central Asia in the area now known as Uzbekistan. Many rely primarily upon the madder plant for the tremendous variety of red and red-brown hues.
Although red and rust fields are the most common colors, they can also have ivory, navy, green, slate, teal, peach, rose or orange backgrounds.
BOKHARA ORIENTAL DESIGN COMPOSITION
The very popular, easily identifiable and adaptable Bokhara oriental design will almost always have some kind of combination of a row or rows of medallions known as guls (sometimes as elephant's feet motifs), octagons, or even roses. These guls are commonly dark blue, black or brown with ivory accents.
So popular is this Bokhara oriental design, you can find these rugs in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, and if you are fortunate enough to find one from an estate sale, an old Russian Bokhara. The design can also be found in good quality machine made rugs around the world as well.
The traditional color of a Bokhara oriental design rug is red, but Pakistani and Indian Bokharas can also be found in rust, tan, orange, light and dark blue, green, aqua, and gold.
Iranian, Afghani, and Russian Bokharas use wool foundations while Pakistan and Indian Bokharas are usually woven on cotton foundations with higher wool pile than the others.
The more common knot is the Persian, also known as a Senneh knot or asymmetric knot.
To learn more about the Bokhara oriental rug design with photos, as well as the Bokhara design in different countries, please continue reading here.
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STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER
Stephen Collins Foster is considered one of our country’s most famous 19th century composers, 'the father of American music,' and the first professional American composer. He wrote over 200 folk songs and instrumental compositions about the America of his era, some of which remain popular today. It is possible that he may be the most recognizable American composer in other countries as well.
Up until the 1960s, school children learned the songs written by Foster. These included 'Old Folks at Home' (Swanee River),'Oh! Susanna,' 'My Old Kentucky Home,' 'Beautiful Dreamer,' 'Camptown Races,' and 'Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair.'
Unfortunately, some of Stephen Collins Foster's lyrics, though generally accepted in his time, are considered racist in today’s America, which has had the effect of limiting the playing of some of his music.
STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER SONGS
The compositions of Stephen Collins Foster were the first genuinely American-themed songs, depicting the love of home, the American temperament, river life and work, politics, battlefields, slavery and plantation life.
Composers in Foster’s era did not own copyrights on their music. They either produced songs while under contract to a music producer or sold individual songs to them outright, usually for a pittance.
Most of Foster’s handwritten music manuscripts have been lost because he usually sent his handwritten scores directly to his publishers. These publishers kept the sheet music manuscripts. They did not give them to libraries or return them to his heirs. However, editions of his songs issued by the publishers of his day can be found in many collections.
His poems and melodies were written in a simple manner with very little musical embellishment or complexity. Many of his songs had Southern themes, yet he had never lived in the South and only visited it once.
'Oh! Susanna' was written by Foster when he was 21 and it launched his career. That song became the anthem for the California Gold Rush. 'My Old Kentucky Home' was adopted as the state song of Kentucky in 1928. 'Old Folks at Home,' also known as 'Swanee River' became the state song of Florida in 1935.
Many early filmmakers used Foster’s songs for their work since there were no copyrights and they could use them at no cost. Just one very famous example of this was the 1949 film, Mighty Joe Young, when the main character is able to calm her pet 12 foot tall gorilla by playing Foster’s 'Beautiful Dreamer.'
STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER BIOGRAPHY
CHILDHOOD
Although there are many biographies written on Stephen Collins Foster, the details tend to differ widely. The reason for this is that his brother destroyed much of the information that he felt would reflect negatively upon the family after the death of his brother, Stephen.
We do know he was born on July 4, 1826 in a small village east of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to a family that was politically and socially prominent. He had 3 older sisters and six older brothers.
The Foster family generated significant wealth and status from the exploitation of enslaved laborers. Thus, although his family lived in the North, they did not support the abolition of slavery. The family profited greatly from cotton picked by enslaved blacks in the South. One brother, Dunning, was a partner in a steamship company in Cincinnati, Ohio, and shipped goods along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Another brother, Morrison, in Pittsburgh, supplied Dunning with many contracts to ship cotton to Pittsburgh’s cotton factories.
Since the family was for a time members of the elite in Pittsburgh, they employed servants that were lower in social standing to do the chores normally left for the children. This left free time for the children to spend attending school and making music. Stephen attended several private academies in Pennsylvania and even spent a brief time at what is now Washington & Jefferson College.
From his earliest childhood, Stephen Collins Foster showed extraordinary talent. He taught himself how to play the clarinet, guitar, flute, and piano. At 10 he performed popular comic songs with a group of local boys. Foster’s neighborhood included many European immigrants and he was used to hearing the music of the German, Italian, Scots-Irish, and English. He studied the songs circulating in American during the 1820s, 30s, and 40s which included American minstrel songs, German lieder, Irish melodies, Scottish ballads, English pleasure garden sings, Italian opera, and African American religious music.
Although he had no formal instruction in composition, a music dealer in Pittsburgh helped him with this and encouraged him. He composed his first song at age 14, entitled the 'Tioga Waltz.' His first published song was 'Open thy Lattice Love.' At 18, he began composing blackface minstrel songs. These were the melodies that made him famous and ultimately caused him to be criticized as racist.
MOVE TO CINCINNATI
For more information on the life of Stephen Collins Foster and his songs as well as some answers to the question of whether or not he was a racist, as well as a link to the complete listing of his compositions, please click here.
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FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY, and MARCH of 2021!
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If you have not yet used the coupons you earned in 2020, now is time to share them with your friends and family members.
The RCAD discounts cannot be used with any other discounts.
STAY SAFE & STAY HEALTHY!
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