Hi Patrick,
So, no shipment out of Izmir across to the Baltic countries, through the Ukraine and Russia and on up to Siberia, at which point it would be a quick hop across the Bering strait, where the sled dogs would have been waiting. That's disappointing. Even so, your alternate explanation is remarkable enough, if a bit depressing. I can see how it might have happened, having once been in that business.
Whatever the explanation, and everything happens for
some reason, the find was extraordinary. I figured out a long time ago I was edified at least as much by the
finding of rugs as by the
having of them. People weighing in on memorable or unusual rug finds might make an interesting thread. Ms. Joy Richards has revealed some impressive natural instincts in that area.
Rich