The International Conference on Oriental Carpets (ICOC) organized a six-day tour in Vienna and Budapest from September 15 to 21, 2014, focusing on the study and appreciation of Oriental carpets and textiles. This event was held in collaboration with the Austrian Society for Textile-Art-Research (TKF), a key organization supporting research, exhibitions, and conferences in this field. The tour offered participants access to major museums, special exhibitions, and expert lectures, providing a deep exploration of textile heritage.
In Vienna, attendees visited significant institutions such as the MAK (Museum of Applied Arts), the Natural History Museum, the Ethnological Museum, and the University of Applied Arts. Special exhibitions played a central role in the program, including a showcase of Armenian Rugs and Textiles at Palais Sans Souci and an exhibition of Classic Carpets from Private Collections at the Novomatic Forum.
Another major highlight was “Inspiration Textil” at Künstlerhaus, an exhibition that examined the relationship between historical textiles and contemporary textile art, marking the largest of its kind ever held in Austria. The exhibition in the Kuenstlerhaus was opened by Margit Fischer, the wife of the Austrian president. Experts such as Michael Franses, Alberto Boralevi, and Markus Ritter delivered lectures on the study of historical carpets, discussing issues of authenticity, artistic influence, and the movement of textiles across cultures.
The tour continued in Budapest and Esztergom, where participants explored the rich textile collections of Hungary. A key stop was the Christian Museum in Esztergom, home to an exceptional collection of classical carpets, where the museum director provided guided insights. In Budapest, the Museum of Applied Arts hosted an exhibition on Islamic Art, including an exclusive display of selected carpets with curatorial commentary by Dr. Emese Pásztor. These visits offered a rare opportunity to examine historical carpets within their cultural and artistic contexts.
Beyond museum visits, the program included an auction of important antique carpets by the Austria Auction Company, an evening event at the MAK introduced by its director Christoph Thun-Hohenstein, and a special exhibition titled “The Ikat Project” at Heiligenkreuzerhof, presented by the University of Applied Arts.
This tour exemplified ICOC’s commitment to fostering international dialogue on Oriental carpets and textiles. By bringing together scholars, collectors, and enthusiasts, the event created an environment for the exchange of ideas, the discovery of rare textile masterpieces, and a deeper appreciation of historical and contemporary textile art.
Peter Bichler, TKF
Editors note: Link to TKF – Die Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Textil-Kunst-Forschung