Hedger's Carpet Auction

A couple times a year the Expat Spouses Club hosts a carpet auction.  These aren't just any carpets, they are handmade Persian, Pakistani, and Afghan rugs.  We didn't know what to expect which is why we spent some time in the carpet shops on Arab Street to learn a little bit about them beforehand.

There were 80 rugs for auction and only about 30 couples in attendance.  Several of the couples are collectors and see these carpets as an investment so they were buying multiples.  We, however, did not buy a single one.  This was our first auction and it made us realize we don't know enough about fine carpet to be buying any just yet.  At the next auction we will go in with a budget and hopefully find something that we like.

From the info packet: Retail Price 11,000SGD
Afghan Chobi Carpet - N.E. Afghanistan  11'7" x 8'6"
Superfine masterpiece of finest 'ghazni' lambs wool pile
finely knotted in beautiful Old Persian Sultanabad Floral design.
Natural dyes.  Excellent quality piece.

 In general, the carpets went to the highest bidder for about one-third of the retail price which was written in the information packet.  As each carpet went on stage, the auctioneer gave detailed descriptions about where they came from, how they were made, how unique they were, and how long it took to make each rug.  It was fascinating to hear how a carpet would be women by some woman from a tribe in Afghanistan who would weave for 8 hours a day for a year to complete it.

As you can see, it wasn't a very big auction.  There were
never more than three people bidding on a single carpet.

We are excited for the next carpet auction!  Next time, we'll be ready!

After the auction we went out with two other couples to check out St. James Power Station which is an old power station converted into eleven night clubs.  We found a table in a bar and had a few drinks while watching the free entertainment.  The performance group had some pretty terrible singers but they went all out with costume changes and backup dancers.  I recorded them doing part of Greased Lightning.  This was not a song we expected to hear in the club, especially live and performed like bad cruise ship entertainment.  Oh, and since when were afros part of the Grease hairstyles?