Herr Krausse has spared no expense in the layout for an ideal carpet space, spread over three floors arid with enough nooks and crannies to provide both tantalizing display areas and a place for the exhausted carpet connoisseur to rest and and take stock. A collector of many years standing, with a special interest in Early Caucasian and Shahsavan weaving, Hans-Jurgen relinquished his well-paid managerial post for the the insecure but challenging career of a carpet dealer.
His first exhibition is thus not what one would expect from a newcomer. It shows a schooled eye for those eternal verities of the German rug trade, 19th century Caucasians in pristine condition, but also a heightened awareness for the interesting and unusual. The "racing car" kilim and its knotted prayer rug counterpart printed on the cover of the exhibition catalog clearly mirror the Krausse aesthetic -- decorative and collectable, old and in good condition. We shall one day need a lengthy chapter to explain the paucity of early flatwoven material from the Caucasus, and this kilim may then take up a venerable place. The knotted equivalent (of the type otherwise best represented in Eder, 1988, p. 248) with its Talish rosettes, birds of prey, and leaky samovars may well be unique in its prayer-rug format. One could almost surmise that some 19th century Jevremoviç had been at work here.
Shahsavan bags naturally abound, as befits one of the world's leading collectors in this field, and the knotted mafrash panel (pl. 20 in the catalog and illustration) must be considered a true find. Some fine old embroideries round off the selection arid Turkoman aficionados everywhere will want the catalog for the Chaudor main carpet (Tauk Nuska) which despite its fragmentary condition, has all the poise of an early example.
"Early Rug Art" would really be something of a misnomer were it not for the dragon rug fragment which opens the book and which sets the mood for a planned future exhibition of early Caucasians.
Herr Krausse is to be congratulated for putting some pep into Munich's rug landscape. Now that Germany is reunited, Boris and Steffi are still winning, and an atmosphere of general optimism is making itself felt, this could well be the right moment to open a high class rug establishment. What did one leading German rug dealer say to me years ago? "You know what the trouble with these other rug dealers is, Herr Taylor? They don't buy the right things." Someone obviously does, though.
The catalog, Fruhe Teppichkunst, contains 32 color Ilustrations and sells for 45DM. It is available from Galerie Krausse, Maximiliansplatz 15, D-8000 Munchen 2, Germany, 011/49/89-29489
