| Harold M. Keshishian |
A Local Life: Harold M. Keshishian, 81, the expert's expert on rugs
and carpets
By Matt Schudel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 8, 2010
For years, on the first Saturday of each month, Harold M. Keshishian would hold court at Washington's Textile Museum.
The sessions became known as Mr. Keshishian's "rug mornings," when he would describe the vibrant patterns and hues
of oriental rugs and the equally colorful stories behind them.
He illustrated his lectures with items from his own collection or from the vast stores of his family's business, Mark
Keshishian and Sons. Mr. Keshishian, who died July 23 of leukemia at his home in the District at 81, grew up in the rug
trade. His family has been furnishing the carpets that cover Washington's most distinguished floors since 1931, and he
brought a lifetime of knowledge to his rug mornings at the Textile Museum.
With just a glance or the educated touch of his forefinger and thumb, he could weave stories about carpets and the people
and places that produced them.
"It's not enough to look at a rug," Grace Moe, who attended many of those Saturday sessions, recalled last week. "You
really need to handle it. Harold had handled tens of thousands of rugs."
A 1978 Washington Post article described Mr. Keshishian as having "the manner of a . . . potentate" as he examined the
rugs brought before him.
"Take that home and soak it in the bathtub overnight," he told one owner. "It is filthy."
He could point out treasures worth thousands of dollars or break the hearts of people who had been bamboozled in a
foreign bazaar. Once, when someone presented a carpet he believed was handmade, Mr. Keshishian declared it virtually
worthless: "It was made in Belgium or Italy on a machine."
"You think so?" the man asked.
"I know so," Mr. Keshishian answered.
By studying a carpet's knots, coloring and calligraphy, he could instantly assess its provenance, naming the country,
village and sometimes the exact year in which it was made.
One of his most dazzling discoveries came when he noticed something unusual about an antique Star Oushak carpet from
Turkey that had spent years in a dusty attic in Georgetown. Somehow, the rug seemed familiar.
Finally, Mr. Keshishian remembered where he had seen it before: It was the same rug -- or a close copy -- that appeared
in a celebrated 16th-century portrait of England's King Henry VIII by Hans Holbein.
"I know so," Mr. Keshishian answered.
By studying a carpet's knots, coloring and calligraphy, he could instantly assess its provenance, naming the country,
village and sometimes the exact year in which it was made.
One of his most dazzling discoveries came when he noticed something unusual about an antique Star Oushak carpet from
Turkey that had spent years in a dusty attic in Georgetown. Somehow, the rug seemed familiar.
Finally, Mr. Keshishian remembered where he had seen it before: It was the same rug -- or a close copy -- that appeared
in a celebrated 16th-century portrait of England's King Henry VIII by Hans Holbein.
"That was the genius of Harold," Moe said. "He was able to bring it all together because of vast knowledge of history and
an almost photographic memory."
Harold Mark Keshishian was born March 20, 1929, in London, during the third step of his family's long journey into
exile. His family was Armenian and had lived in the Turkish region of Anatolia for years. In 1915, a prolonged period of
ethnic cleansing began, during which Armenians were forced from their homes in Turkey and often killed.
Mr. Keshishian's father, Mark Keshishian -- all male members of the family have Mark as a middle name in his honor --
moved his family to the Greek island of Corfu in the 1920s, then to Belgium and London. Each of his three sons was
born in a different country.
The family came to New York in 1931 and settled in Washington later that year. Mark Keshishian, who first became a
rug merchant in Constantinople, opened a shop in the District and, by 1935, was cleaning, repairing and selling rugs at the
White House.
"Mrs. Roosevelt used to go to my father's shop at least once a month to look at carpets," John Keshishian, the eldest of
the three sons, recalled last week.
Harold Keshishian, the youngest son, graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1948, served in the Army and
attended the Colorado School of Mines. In 1956, he joined his father and middle brother, James, in business.
On any given day at Keshishian and Sons, a visitor could hear seemingly half the languages of Europe and the Near East.
At home, the family spoke Armenian and a patois all its own.
"My father would say something in Greek," John Keshishian recalled, "and my mother would answer in French."
Mark Keshishian, the family patriarch, died in 1985; James Keshishian died in 2003. The company, based in Chevy
Chase, is now operated by Mr. Keshishian's widow and nephew.
Mr. Keshishian's first marriage, to Nancy Cornett, ended in divorce.
In addition to his brother John of McLean, survivors include his wife of 27 years, Melissa McGee Keshishian, and their
three children, Kirk M. Keshishian, Christopher M. Keshishian and Jocelyn B. Keshishian, all of Washington; and a
daughter from his first marriage, Elizabeth A. Keshishian-Tyler of Los Angeles.
Mr. Keshishian wrote two books on rugs and quietly did work at the White House for presidents of both parties. In the
1970s, he had a prominent role in redecorating the diplomatic reception rooms at the State Department.
He was a trustee of the Textile Museum and a consultant to embassies, the Blair House and the historic Tudor Place,
Decatur House and Hillwood Estate in the District. He received a presidential appointment to the State Department's
Cultural Property Advisory Committee in 1992 and was sometimes called on by the U.S. Customs Service to examine
rugs seized from smugglers.
Proud of his Armenian heritage, Mr. Keshishian was a member of Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church in Bethesda.
He had a farm in Poolesville, where he raised cattle, sheep, horses, chickens and goats and was part of a group that
bought and restored the Kennedy Farmhouse in Washington County, Md., where abolitionist John Brown planned his
1859 raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, W.Va. It is now a national historic landmark.
But the strongest thread running through Mr. Keshishian's life was his devotion to the elaborately dyed and knotted rugs
that have enchanted the world for centuries.
"Harold was recognized as the expert's expert," said Grace Moe. "He could unravel the mystery of a rug -- its history and
background. Every rug was a puzzle to figure out."
and carpets
By Matt Schudel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 8, 2010
For years, on the first Saturday of each month, Harold M. Keshishian would hold court at Washington's Textile Museum.
The sessions became known as Mr. Keshishian's "rug mornings," when he would describe the vibrant patterns and hues
of oriental rugs and the equally colorful stories behind them.
He illustrated his lectures with items from his own collection or from the vast stores of his family's business, Mark
Keshishian and Sons. Mr. Keshishian, who died July 23 of leukemia at his home in the District at 81, grew up in the rug
trade. His family has been furnishing the carpets that cover Washington's most distinguished floors since 1931, and he
brought a lifetime of knowledge to his rug mornings at the Textile Museum.
With just a glance or the educated touch of his forefinger and thumb, he could weave stories about carpets and the people
and places that produced them.
"It's not enough to look at a rug," Grace Moe, who attended many of those Saturday sessions, recalled last week. "You
really need to handle it. Harold had handled tens of thousands of rugs."
A 1978 Washington Post article described Mr. Keshishian as having "the manner of a . . . potentate" as he examined the
rugs brought before him.
"Take that home and soak it in the bathtub overnight," he told one owner. "It is filthy."
He could point out treasures worth thousands of dollars or break the hearts of people who had been bamboozled in a
foreign bazaar. Once, when someone presented a carpet he believed was handmade, Mr. Keshishian declared it virtually
worthless: "It was made in Belgium or Italy on a machine."
"You think so?" the man asked.
"I know so," Mr. Keshishian answered.
By studying a carpet's knots, coloring and calligraphy, he could instantly assess its provenance, naming the country,
village and sometimes the exact year in which it was made.
One of his most dazzling discoveries came when he noticed something unusual about an antique Star Oushak carpet from
Turkey that had spent years in a dusty attic in Georgetown. Somehow, the rug seemed familiar.
Finally, Mr. Keshishian remembered where he had seen it before: It was the same rug -- or a close copy -- that appeared
in a celebrated 16th-century portrait of England's King Henry VIII by Hans Holbein.
"I know so," Mr. Keshishian answered.
By studying a carpet's knots, coloring and calligraphy, he could instantly assess its provenance, naming the country,
village and sometimes the exact year in which it was made.
One of his most dazzling discoveries came when he noticed something unusual about an antique Star Oushak carpet from
Turkey that had spent years in a dusty attic in Georgetown. Somehow, the rug seemed familiar.
Finally, Mr. Keshishian remembered where he had seen it before: It was the same rug -- or a close copy -- that appeared
in a celebrated 16th-century portrait of England's King Henry VIII by Hans Holbein.
"That was the genius of Harold," Moe said. "He was able to bring it all together because of vast knowledge of history and
an almost photographic memory."
Harold Mark Keshishian was born March 20, 1929, in London, during the third step of his family's long journey into
exile. His family was Armenian and had lived in the Turkish region of Anatolia for years. In 1915, a prolonged period of
ethnic cleansing began, during which Armenians were forced from their homes in Turkey and often killed.
Mr. Keshishian's father, Mark Keshishian -- all male members of the family have Mark as a middle name in his honor --
moved his family to the Greek island of Corfu in the 1920s, then to Belgium and London. Each of his three sons was
born in a different country.
The family came to New York in 1931 and settled in Washington later that year. Mark Keshishian, who first became a
rug merchant in Constantinople, opened a shop in the District and, by 1935, was cleaning, repairing and selling rugs at the
White House.
"Mrs. Roosevelt used to go to my father's shop at least once a month to look at carpets," John Keshishian, the eldest of
the three sons, recalled last week.
Harold Keshishian, the youngest son, graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1948, served in the Army and
attended the Colorado School of Mines. In 1956, he joined his father and middle brother, James, in business.
On any given day at Keshishian and Sons, a visitor could hear seemingly half the languages of Europe and the Near East.
At home, the family spoke Armenian and a patois all its own.
"My father would say something in Greek," John Keshishian recalled, "and my mother would answer in French."
Mark Keshishian, the family patriarch, died in 1985; James Keshishian died in 2003. The company, based in Chevy
Chase, is now operated by Mr. Keshishian's widow and nephew.
Mr. Keshishian's first marriage, to Nancy Cornett, ended in divorce.
In addition to his brother John of McLean, survivors include his wife of 27 years, Melissa McGee Keshishian, and their
three children, Kirk M. Keshishian, Christopher M. Keshishian and Jocelyn B. Keshishian, all of Washington; and a
daughter from his first marriage, Elizabeth A. Keshishian-Tyler of Los Angeles.
Mr. Keshishian wrote two books on rugs and quietly did work at the White House for presidents of both parties. In the
1970s, he had a prominent role in redecorating the diplomatic reception rooms at the State Department.
He was a trustee of the Textile Museum and a consultant to embassies, the Blair House and the historic Tudor Place,
Decatur House and Hillwood Estate in the District. He received a presidential appointment to the State Department's
Cultural Property Advisory Committee in 1992 and was sometimes called on by the U.S. Customs Service to examine
rugs seized from smugglers.
Proud of his Armenian heritage, Mr. Keshishian was a member of Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church in Bethesda.
He had a farm in Poolesville, where he raised cattle, sheep, horses, chickens and goats and was part of a group that
bought and restored the Kennedy Farmhouse in Washington County, Md., where abolitionist John Brown planned his
1859 raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, W.Va. It is now a national historic landmark.
But the strongest thread running through Mr. Keshishian's life was his devotion to the elaborately dyed and knotted rugs
that have enchanted the world for centuries.
"Harold was recognized as the expert's expert," said Grace Moe. "He could unravel the mystery of a rug -- its history and
background. Every rug was a puzzle to figure out."
Notes on James Mark Keshishian A.S.A.
It is with great sadness I report that Uncle Jimmy passed away May 15, 2003. Just yesterday my one year old Monty was
wearing an outfit that Uncle Jimmy gave our son Max when he was a little fellow. We were not related to Uncle Jimmy
by blood or marriage. Jim was a kind and good man who was a great friend to us. I will miss him and forever remember
his countless acts of kindness.
James Mark Keshishian A.S.A.
Uncle Jimmy Keshishian is the USA's top appraiser of Oriental Carpets. He and his brother Harold operate Mark
Keshishian & Sons Oriental Rugs in Chevy Chase Maryland. Uncle Jimmy is the founder and past President of the
Armenian Rug Society. Jim has taught the Oriental Rug course in the Appraisal Science program at George Washington
University. Jim is a member of the Cosmos Club and is father of three children.
Jim Keshishian is one of the finest men I have met. His knowledge of Oriental rugs is enviable and the generosity he
shows to others is extraordinary. .
A-103 Karabagh S.S.R. "Avedis Hagopov", ca. 1915-4' 1" X 7 ft
Keshishian is considered one of the or perhaps even the top expert on Oriental rugs. He is an senior appraiser in the A.S.
A. and wrote the appraisal test used by ORRA. Jim was asked to write a chapter on Oriental Carpets for a law book on
Valuation Strategies in Divorce Proceedings (I was quite honored that Jim asked my help in editing his draft of the
chapter). Jim has also been called upon to act as an expert witness by the Internal Revenue Service and US Customs in
addition to testimony in court cases.
Jim has been a leader in the effort to recognize the cultural achievement of the Armenian people. Jim has been active in a
wide range of efforts including as a founder of the Armenian Rug Society, as an officer, and as President. He has also
worked for the benefit of his people, Armenia as a nation, Armenian schools, the embassy and so many others charitable
acts as to be too long to list.
Valuation Strategies in Divorce
By: Feder, Robert D.
3rd ed//Hardback
472 pages
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
ISBN: 0471592323
James Mark Keshishian Memorial Page
Uncle Jimmy Keshishian is the USA's top appraiser of Oriental Carpets. He and his brother Harold operate Mark
Keshishian & Sons Oriental Rugs in Chevy Chase Maryland. Uncle Jimmy is the founder and past President of the
Armenian Rug Society. Jim has taught the Oriental Rug course in the Appraisal Science program at George Washington
University. Jim is a member of the Cosmos Club, the Congressional Country Club, and is father of three children.
The Joseph V. McMullan Award
Trustee Near Eastern Art Research Center
Oriental Rugs: Practical Seminar on Caucasian Rugs
Inscribed Armenian Rugs of Yesteryear
Oriental Rugs Technical Analyses and Recordation
Oriental Rugs: Valuation Affected By Conservation, Repair and Restoration
Trusted Resource List - Rug & Carpet Dealers In The U.S.
83 Rug Notes
Where in Hell is George?
RUG NOTES, Vol. 8/2
Keshishian Karabagh Floral Carpet Fragment
Reports Tie Clinton Sexcapades to Foster's Death
Armenian Rugs Society
The James M. Keshishian Silk Kashan Circa 1920
Armenian National Institute Board of Governors Chairman Robert
A. Kaloosdian (left) thanks James M. Keshishian for his donation to the
AGMM during the Armenian Assembly's Board of Trustees Weekend in Delray
Beach, Florida.
Armenian National Institute
122 C Street, NW, Suite 360
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-383-9009
Email: ani@aaainc.org
Web: <www.armenian-genocide.org>
LONGTIME ARMENIAN-AMERICAN ACTIVIST DONATES MILLION-DOLLAR UNIQUE RUG
COLLECTION TO FUTURE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM
Washington, DC - Washington-area activist and prominent businessman James M. Keshishian has donated his rare
Armenian rug collection to the future Armenian Genocide Museum and Memorial (AGMM). The collection, appraised at
nearly one million dollars, includes over 100 inscribed carpets - some of which were woven by survivors of the Armenian
Genocide.
One of the most discriminating experts on the subject of Armenian rugs, Keshishian operates a successful oriental rugs
and tapestries business located in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He learned the family business from his father Mark, who
established the first Keshishian Oriental Rug store in London, England. During the Depression, the family moved to the
U.S. and Mark opened a store in Washington - and soon counted the White House among its clientele.
James Keshishian expanded the family business and in 1980 established the Armenian Rug Society, for rug enthusiasts to
discuss, research and document Armenian-made rugs. His passion for rugs, especially those woven in Armenia, also
inspired him to author the book, "Inscribed Armenian Rugs of Yesteryear," published in 1994.
Keshishian, who is equally as passionate about Armenia and Armenian-American issues, is also a supporter of the
Armenian Assembly of America. A fellow trustee for some 30 years, Keshishian was recognized during the Assembly's
Board of Trustees Banquet March 1 for his generous donation, with the establishment of the James M. Keshishian
Internship.
The Armenian National Institute's Board of Governors Chairman Robert A. Kaloosdian thanked Keshishian for his
unwavering support of the Armenian people "and for all your life-long contributions and acts on behalf of Armenia."
"On behalf of the Armenian Assembly, the Armenian National Institute and the Armenian Genocide Museum and
Memorial, I thank you and I applaud you for this extraordinary gift," Kaloosdian added.
Keshishian, expressing thanks for the honor, said his collection of handmade Armenian rugs and antiquities has been a
labor of love and he is pleased the AGMM will house the artifacts, especially those made by survivors and known as
"orphan rugs." The collection, mostly acquired from the Caucasus region, includes pieces from the late nineteenth
century.
The future museum will be housed in the historic National Bank building and three adjoining lots, located in downtown
Washington DC - just two blocks from the White House. Constructed in 1925, the bank building is listed as a landmark in
the DC Inventory of Historic Sites and in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Armenian National Institute is dedicated to the study, research, and affirmation of the Armenian Genocide. Visit its
Web site at www.armenian-genocide.org.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2003
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: ckojoian@aaainc.org
Keshishian, James Mark. Inscribed Armenian Rugs of Yesteryear. Washington DC: 1994.
A work of love from one of America's top carpet experts. A thorough and thoughtful examination of a very special
collection of rugs.
Der Manuelian, Lucy.
Der Manuelian, L. and M. Eiland: Weavers, Merchants and Kings, Inscribed Rugs from Armenia
A splendid book, Der Manuelian gives a scholarly look at the Armenians and Eiland does a masterful job with the rugs.
Good pictures and great rugs. Armenian Rugs
(15 of the rugs illustrated in this book are in Jim Keshishian's collection.)
James M. Keshishian Dies; Expert on Oriental Carpets
Monday, May 19, 2003; Page B06
James Mark Keshishian, 78, who for the past 30 years was president of Mark Keshishian & Sons, his family's oriental
carpet business in Chevy Chase and who was also a leader in Washington's Armenian community, died May 15 at his
daughter's home in McLean. He had cancer.
Mr. Keshishian's business -- started by his father first in London and then in the Washington area in 1931 -- provided
carpets to high-profile government clients, including the White House, the State Department and foreign embassies.
He lectured widely about oriental carpets, was a senior appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers and was a
founder and former president of the Armenian Rugs Society. His book, "Inscribed Armenian Rugs of Yesteryear," was
published in 1994.
He saw his rug collecting as a way of preserving his family's Ottoman Armenian heritage. He also raised funds for
Armenian causes and was a founding member of Soorp Khatch Armenian Apostolic Church in Chevy Chase.
Mr. Keshishian, who lived in Chevy Chase, was born in Belgium and raised in Washington. He was a 1943 graduate of
Wilson High School. During World War II, he served in the Army in the European and Pacific theaters and received two
Bronze Stars. After the war, he graduated from the Ohio Mechanics Institute in Cincinnati and took business classes at
George Washington University.
In the 1950s and 1960s, he was president of his family business, Senate Laundry, a commercial laundry service for many
Washington hotels and hospitals.
He was a former national president of what is now the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration. His
memberships included Congressional Country Club in Bethesda and the Cosmos Club.
His avocations included playing golf, smoking cigars and collecting rare Armenian coins, including some dating back as
early as AD 163. He also was a Republican Party fundraiser.
His marriage to Elsa Carapetian Keshishian ended in divorce.
Survivors include three children, Mark Keshishian of Gaithersburg, Lora Picini of McLean and Leon Keshishian of
Potomac; two brothers, Dr. John Keshishian of McLean and Harold M. Keshishian of Washington; and three
grandchildren.
© 2003The Washington Post Company
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Seen on http://www.ascr.org/memorium.shtml by Patty Harmon
In Memorium
James M. Keshishian
1925-2003 Renowned Rug Specialist
James Mark Keshishian graciously shared his knowledge, resources and sense of humor with those fortunate enough to
cross his path. His respect and devotion to his Armenian heritage were apparent in the many ways he used his rug
collection to preserve its history, and the causes to which he dedicated his time and energy. Jim passed away on May 15,
2003, of cancer. He was 78.
For the past 30 years, Jim was president of Mark Keshishian & Sons, Inc., an Oriental carpet store based on the outskirts
of Washington, D.C., and started by his father in 1931. A Washington institution, the firm counts some of the city's
largest embassies and public buildings among its clients, including the White House.
His knowledge of Oriental carpets was legendary. He authored a number of books and articles on a host of topics related
to his passion, taught courses on rug identification and inspired an appreciation for them in many individuals.
Among those so inspired was ASCR's technical advisor, Dr. Steven Spivak. Former NIRC executive Robert Coleman and
Jim (with some "cajoling, coercing and finally badgering") were the impetus behind Dr. Spivak's decision to become
affiliated with ASCR.
Dr. Spivak recounted their last meeting at a Virginia doctor's office. "We spoke fondly of many years of working together
for NIRC and ASCR, and its magazine where Jim wrote Oriental rug articles. He was at that time soon to leave for
Normandy, France and Belgium, to join a reunion of his 'ole U.S. Army buddies who survived World War II; and
returned home to continue family traditions that have made a 'mark' on America's Oriental rug business."
"Keshishian would phone me a few times every year — always with a bright new idea or [a] tough-nut technical question
on fibers, dyes, chemicals or stain removal, ever to challenge my mettle. These conversations and my periodic visits to
their rug shop were always stimulating, often madcap, witty or funny, and forever friendly. A few rugs found their way
from Keshishian's shop into our home, and still adorn our floors."
Jim and his company were among the early members of the National Institute of Rug Cleaning. He served as ASCR's
treasurer for close to two decades in the late 1960s and '70s before becoming president in 1981. He was considered one
of the foremost experts on Oriental rugs and was a senior appraiser for the A.S.A. In 1991, he received the Joseph V.
McMullan Award for "stewardship and scholarship in Islamic rugs and textiles," one of the most prestigious awards in the
field of Oriental carpets. (His brother, Harold M. Keshishian, was one of the first recipients after the award's inception in
1988.)
Among his contemporaries at ASCR who shared his love of fine carpets were the Amirkhans, Dohanians and Woodards.
"He was highly intelligent," says Inez Amirkhan. "He knew about rugs and you couldn't beat his knowledge about
Armenian rugs."
Jim was the founder and past president of the Armenian Rug Society. His collection of Armenian inscribed rugs is world
famous and much has been written and published about them. He saw the collection as one way to recognize and catalog
the efforts of the Armenian people.
"Jim Keshishian is one of the finest men I have met," says J. Barry O'Connell, Jr. on his website. O'Connell is the former
publisher and editor of Rug Notes. "His knowledge of Oriental rugs is enviable and the generosity he shows to others is
extraordinary…'Uncle Jimmy' is one of the grand old men of the rug world..."
Donations may be made in Jim's memory to the Armenian Tree Project, a non-profit organization that works to reforest
the country of Armenia, or to the Armenian National Institute, which is involved in establishing an Armenian museum in
Washington, D.C.
Armenian Tree Project
65 Main St.
Watertown, MA 02472
Armenian National Institute
122 C St., N.W., Suite 360
Washington, D.C. 20001
Seen on www.rugnews.com
JAMES MARK KESHISHIAN DIES AT 78;
DEAN OF ORIENTAL RUG APPRAISERS
James Keshishian
CHEVY CHASE, MD -- Funeral services were held here May 19 for veteran Oriental rug retailer James Mark
Keshishian. He had pancreatic cancer. He died May 15 four days after his 78th birthday.
"Uncle Jimmy " Keshishian was considered to be the USA's top appraiser of Oriental Carpets. He was the founder and
past president of the Armenian Rug Society. He taught the Oriental Rug course in the Appraisal Science program at
George Washington University.
Contributions may be made to either the Armenian Tree Project, 65 Main St., Watertown, MA or The Armenian National
Institute, 122 C St. NW, Suite 360, Washington, DC 20001.
The Armenian Tree Project is a non-profit organization working to reforest Armenia. The Armenian National Institute is a
group working to establish an Armenian museum in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Keshishian is survived by sons Mark and Leon Keshishian and daughter Lora Picini. He is also survived by two
brothers, Dr. John Keshishian and Harold Keshishian, and granchildren Armand, Ila and Liza Keshishian.
Mark Keshishian & Sons was first established in 1907 in Istanbul, Turkey by Mark Keshishian and one of his older
brothers. The firm moved to Washington, DC in 1931. Mark Keshishian's degree as Master of Pharmacy helped him
understand the chemistry of rug washing and dyeing. Those skills helped establish the company as a leader in the field, a
position the company maintains to the present.
In 2002, the company celebrated its 96th anniversary and 71st year in the Washington, DC area. James Kashishian and
his brother Harold continued to run the family business after the death in 1985 of their father, founder Mark Keshishian.
Mark Keshishian, grandson of the founder, is now president of the company.
For an in-depth memorial celebrating the life of James Mark Keshishian, click here: http://www.orientalcarpets.
net/james_memorial.htm
A memorial by the Association of certified rug appraisers, click here:
http://www.ascr.org/memorium.shtml
For your thoughts about Mr.. Keshishian, email : lwyman@rugnews.com
The James M. Keshishian Kashan
The James Mark Keshishian Silk Kashan. The James Mark Keshishian Silk
Kashan Circa 1920. 3 foot 4 inch by 4 foot 11 inch. This rug ... s
Guide To Chelaberd Kazak Rugs
... Caucasian Prayer Rugs. Keshishian, James Mark. Inscribed Armenian Rugs of Yesteryear. ... Oriental
Rugs: Practical Seminar on Caucasian Rugs by James M. Keshishian. ...
JBOC's Notes - K
... Adam Keshishian Jewelers. Keshishian, Harold. Notes on Harold and Melissa Keshishian.
Keshishian, James Mark. ASA: Notes on James Mark Keshishian ASA. ...
Keshishian Karabagh Floral Carpet Fragment
... Reprinted with Permission from Inscribed Armenian Rugs of Yesteryear by
James Mark Keshishian, Page 186. ... Notes on James Mark Keshishian ASA. ...
Beginners Guide to Oriental Rugs
... Oriental Rugs Technical Analyses and Recordation by James M. Keshishian. Oriental
Rugs: Practical Seminar on Caucasian Rugs by James M. Keshishian. ...
Oriental Rugs: Treasure of the Caucasus Comment
... Mr. and Mrs. Harold Keshishian,. Mr. and Mrs. James Keshishian,. Mr.
and Mrs. Zaven Kish (Mr. Kish is since deceased),. Mr. Kirk Landauer,. ...
The JosephV. McMullan Award
... Recipients of The Joseph V. McMullan Award. 1988. Harold M. Keshishian. William Russell
Pickering. 1989. James D. Burns. ... 1991. James M. Keshishian. John M. Topham. 1992. ...
Rug Societies
... Armenian Rug Society. Contact - James Keshishian Phone - 301-654-4044 Fax
- 301-907-8236 E-mail - jkesh@msn.com. ICOC Members Association. Brian. ...
5 Star Guide To Oriental Rug Books G
... the Der Manuelian, L. and M. Eiland: Weavers, Merchants and Kings, Inscribed Rugs
from Armenia and the James Keshishian's Inscribed Armenian Rugs of Yesteryear ...
Oriental Rugs: Practical Seminar on Caucasian Rugs
Oriental Rugs, Practical Seminar on Caucasian Rugs By James M. Keshishian
America's Top Oriental Rug Appraiser. ... By James M. Keshishian ASA. ...
5 Star Guide To Oriental Rug Books K
... Plate 16. The Dodds Karabagh with Parrots and Peacocks. Keshishian, James
Mark. Inscribed Armenian Rugs of Yesteryear. Washington DC: 1994. ...
Persian Rugs & Carpets - Kashan
... He was famous for his religious poems and much revered in Persia. Thanks for Reading
MyNotes! The James M. Keshishian Silk Kashan Circa 1920. Silk Kashan Rugs. ...
Oriental Rugs: Valuation Affected By Conservation, Repair and ...
... By James M. Keshishian, ASA. Senior - Oriental Rugs. ... He knows. JAMES M. KESHISHIAN.
4505 Stanford ST. Chevy Chase, MD 20815. (301) 654-4044. For Further Reading: ...
Oriental Rugs Technical Analyses and Recordation
Oriental Rugs Technical Analyses and Recordation. By JAMES M. Keshishian,
ASA. Senior - Oriental Rugs. ... JAMES M. KESHISHIAN ASA. 4505 Stanford ST. ...
Guide to Seychour Rugs
... Oriental Rugs Volume 1 Caucasian pages 301 - 303. The Keshishian Alpan
Fragment. A Seychour long rug lot 17. ... The James Cohen Zeykhur Rug. ...
Trusted Resource List - Misc.
... Mark Keshishian & Sons Oriental Carpets. Harold, James, and Mark Keshishian
4505 Stanford ST. Chevy Chase, MD 20815 (301) 654-4044 Keshad.htm. ...
THE NEAR EASTERN ART RESEARCH CENTER
... Inscribed Armenian Rugs of Yesteryear, James M. Keshishian, 1994. Moroccan Carpets,
Brooke Pickering, W. Russell Pickering, and Ralph S. Yohe, 1994. ...
Guide to Kazak Rugs
... Kaffel, Ralph. Caucasian Prayer Rugs. Keshishian, James Mark. Inscribed
Armenian Rugs of Yesteryear. Schurmann, Ulrich. Caucasian Rugs. ...
Oriental Rug Notes by Barry O'Connell
... Jozan Magazine Sale Galleries a new venue for online rug sale. In Memoriam
James Mark Keshishian ASA 1925 - 2003. New Site Search! Google. ...
Trusted Resource List - Rug & Carpet Dealers In The US
... 330 N Stonestreet Ave., Rockville Tel: 301/762-0000. Mark Keshishian & Sons
Oriental Carpets. James Harold, and Mark Keshishian 4505 Stanford ST. ...
Inscribed 1903 Armenian "Akstafa" Carpet
... this type of rug. James "Uncle Jimmy" M. Keshishian concurs in his
book Inscribed Armenian Rugs of Yesteryear. Of course Max and ...
RugNotes - D
... One very prominent older Armenian Rug Dealer (not Jim Keshishian) told me that the
dealers used Derbent as the attribution you give a Caucasian ... Dickie, James. ...
The Best Rug & Carpet Appraisers
... James M. Keshishian, ASA. Accredited Senior Appraiser ASA 4505 Stanford Street
Chevy Chase, MD 20815 Phone: (301) 654-4044 Facsimile: (301) 907-8236. ...
Guide to Classical Carpets
JBOC's Notes on Oriental Rugs. Guide to Classical Carpets. ...
An Identification Puzzle
... in the field. Then there are guys who grew up in rug businesses like
James Mark Keshishian ASA or Mark Topalian. Then there are ...
RugNotes - M
... Mellaart, James V. Notes on James Mellaart. ... Members include William Russell Pickering,
Harold Keshishian, and the late Kim Roosevelt. Metropolitan Museum of Art. ...
Perepedil Kuba Rug
... Der Manuelian, L. and M. Eiland: Weavers, Merchants and Kings, Inscribed Rugs
from Armenia. Keshishian, James Mark. Inscribed Armenian Rugs of Yesteryear. ...
RugNotes - Index A
... Allen, James. Notes on James C. Allen. Allan, JW: Notes on JW Allan. ... Alpan: Alpan
rugs are a type of Kuba; The Keshishian Alpan Fragment. Alpert, Steve. al-Qaeda: ...
JBOC's Notes on Oriental Rugs
... This rug is in incredible condition. I showed it to James M. "Uncle
Jimmy" Keshishian ASA and he said, "Tell them it's all there". ...
5 Star Guide To Oriental Rug Books D
... Good pictures and great rugs. Armenian Rugs (15 of the rugs illustrated in this
book are from Jim Keshishian's collection.). Desai, Chelna. ... Dickie, James. ...
5 Star Guide To Oriental Rug Books R
... Reid, James J. Tribalism and Society in Islamic Iran. Malibu: Udena Publications,
1983. ... A gift from "Uncle Jimmy" Keshishian who felt I needed this book. ...
Notes on The Rugs of Afghanistan
... If you remember that rule that Uncle Jimmy Keshishian taught me, the way to become
an ... Years ago a Portland Oregon rug dealer (James Opie) ran a series of very ...
For Further Reading:
Persian Rugs and Carpet
Turkish Rugs
Turkmen Rugs
JBOC's Notes on the Bible
wwwPersianCarpetGuide.com
Caucasian Rugs
Thanks and best wishes,
J. Barry O'Connell Jr.
Index to JBOC's Rug Notes