November 23, 2019 Shiv Sikri Hidden in Plain Sight: Irregularities & Variations in Oriental Rug Designs Some pictures click on the thumbnail for the full picture. Irregularities and variations in oriental rugs have been "explained away" in an ad hoc, case by case basis here in the west, far from the places they were woven and without any explanations from those that wove them. These explanations include notions of individual variations, mistakes, or indeed change of weavers. However, many such irregularities can be seen to be quite specific and articulate. This raises the possibility, one that should be given appropriate weight, that these are traditional practices and may signify something more than individual improvisations. By comparing many examples, we hope to persuade old timers and new enthusiasts to look at oriental weaving traditions anew, to identify views that are coherent over several millennia and across a broad geography, and that consciously incorporate specific variations. Shiv Sikri's professional training is in Mathematics, and he holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in the subject. He has been a lecturer at a wide range of colleges in the New York area, including FIT and Sarah Lawrence College. His primary affiliation for over 20 years has been with the colleges of CUNY (City University of New York.) He also enjoys teaching children in a Math Circle setting. As a mathematician, Shiv specializes in Number Theory of the algebraic kind. Shiv worked in the antique oriental carpet trade for several years simultaneously with his academic pursuits. He collects over a wide range of weavings, but early Baluch material is closest to his heart. return to home page