This article first appeared in the High Hand Nursery Newsletter Jan/Feb 2012 issue. We hope you enjoy it as it explains what brought Michael into the rug business.
An Introduction to Truckee Mountain Rug Company
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| Naturally Dyed Yarns |
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| Ground Loom Weaving |
It all started in September 2001 when Michael Murphy, a locally renowned architect, was traveling and bought a Gabbeh rug in Amsterdam, Holland. The sales person informed Michael that importers could be found through the Internet if he ever wished to buy another. After returning to his home in Auburn, that is exactly what he did. He furnished his office with a few more and when his clients saw, they wanted some too! So he happily purchased more and six months from owning his first Gabbeh, they were an integral part of the interiors portion of his practice. The loft in his office became his first store with around 100 rugs to choose from.
As he bought and sold more rugs and his collection was starting to outgrow the loft, he began looking to establish a dedicated store. He settled on a location in Truckee, also owing to the fact that Auburn already had an oriental rug gallery and that he felt the natural contemporary feel of the Gabbeh lent itself perfection to vacation homes here and in the Tahoe area. He knew once the business had established itself well, he would be willing to move it back down the hill when conditions were right. That time came in 2007 when Michael took the opportunity to come to Loomis and set up shop as one of the first businesses established in the beautiful fruit sheds here at High Hand Nursery.
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| Nomadic Flock of Sheep |
When asked “What drew you to these rugs?,” Michael replied, “Gabbeh rugs are the main feature of my collection because they appeal to my eye! I enjoy their tribal nature; the word “Gabbeh” itself means “rough.” I appreciate how they are spun with wool from the nomad’s own sheep, dyed with natural dyes, and woven on ground looms that are placed and removed as the tribes migrate with their sheep. They are an integral part of a tribe’s everyday life, not made just for export, so each rug becomes a unique creation as the individual weaver uses their medium to express the joy they find in their surroundings. Every single Gabbeh is unique, the shapes can be a little irregular, there is a wide variety of bright colors, plus many whimsical details that only become apparent by taking a closer look at the pattern. I personally select every single rug we offer because of it’s unique appearance and because it would blend well in today’s homes.”
Today, Truckee Mountain Rug Co has over 2,000 rugs and accessories available between their showroom and their webstore, www.truckeerug.com. We also wash and repair rugs and offer ethic clothing, fine art painted gourds, and selected antiques.
