| How Arlette Bollag and Toni Hutmacher
contracted the «kilim bug» and how it changed their lives... |
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| In winter 1969, Toni Hutmacher,
a young architect, left for India in an old Citroën 2CV, driving
over snowy passes and through deserts in Turkey, Iraq, Baluchistan and
Pakistan – meeting tribal folk, and strolling through bazaars, looking
at colourful rugs and kilims. To buy any was out of the question –
the little money he had was reserved for spare parts for the clattering
but sturdy little car that made it to India and back through Afghanistan. |
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In 1971 Arlette, travelled by bus and
train very much along the same route and spent hours in the bazaar, listening
to the bazaris, admiring the beauty of rugs and kilims she could not buy
for lack of funds and a camel to transport them on.
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| We met in 1973, and our combined
nostalgia held fast and even increased over the years. Collecting on a
small scale, and a growing passion for nomadic culture and textiles led
to a first big exhibition in 1979, called NOMADENSCHÄTZE (nomadic
treasures). Being daring greenhorns and still very young then, we opted
for the exclusive Palace Hotel in Gstaad, and put up an old Kirghiz yurt
in the elegant exhibition space. It was a big success with the sophisticated
clientele, who loved to drink their wodka there, reclining on antique
balisht. («He looks like Roger Moore.» «It IS Roger
Moore.») On show were antique rugs, kilims, Sassanid vases, Uzbek
suzani, ikat panels and ikat coats. |
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| A few months later, we exhibited a complete
ikat tent from Bochara in Zurich, and from then on did three to four major
exhibitions a year, both in Zurich and in a 14th century mill in the countryside.
Outside the mill was an Uzbek yurt where many a leg of lamb was roasted
over the fire to the delight of friends and visitors. During exhibitions
concerts and lectures where held in the mill. Among the many exhibitions
we‘ll name just a few: Kurdish rugs (1983), Baluch weavings (1984),
Weavings of the Shahsavan (985). |
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| Travelling in Turkey, Afghanistan
and Pakistan in the early eighties to collect great kilims, Lakai embroideries,
felts, suzani and Baluch rugs, and with curiosity being the best teacher
of all, our knowledge grew. Seeking information, we listened to tribals
and scholars alike, read books, spent hours in museums and bazaars. We
realized we had become serious rug and kilim dealers well after everybody
else did. |
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| In 1991 we decided to return to our hometown
Zürich to open the gallery NOMADENSCHÄTZE in the heart of the
old city, concentrating on exceptional kilims and antique beads. It was
located at Kirchgasse 36, then, in 1994, on Kirchgasse 25, in a wonderful
big space with a beautiful garden. It was the same street where we had
held our first Zurich exhibition in 1979, which we considered a good omen.
The welcoming atmosphere equally attracted young newcomers as well as
collectors and nostalgic travellers. A comprehensive, vast library could
be consulted by visitors. Over the years, it became a kind of oasis for
many. |
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| In 2002, our gallery lease ran out and
we had to find a solution. Arlette‘s father, Max G. Bollag had stopped
working in his art gallery at the age of 85. It would have been a pity
to discontinue the family‘s tradition in the art business (four
generations since 1899). NOMADENSCHÄTZE needed a new location. So
we decided to renovate the big space near Bahnhofstrasse and exhibit
art and kilims in turns, feeling that these two art forms should not
be mixed without good reason. (see NOMADENSCHÄTZE
on show, see BOLLAG
GALLERIES on show) |
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