History | N.Vrouyr

HISTORY OF BELGIUM'S OLDEST RUGSTORE

Since 1920: Same Company, Same Family, Same Location

In 1917 N.Vrouyr was founded in the Hague in the Anna Paulownastreet. In 1920 the shop moved to Antwerp. Since then, les Magasins Arméniens de Tapis d'Orient N.Vrouyr was established and stayed on the same address: Komedieplaats 4. Facing the Bourla theater, the premises (now three houses and three floors) emanate an unparalleled atmosphere. After more than hundred years they have become an inseparable part of the old city center. Impeccable service and accurate information always were a primary concern. The reputation of trustworthiness of N.Vrouyr has spread wide across the borders.
In 2010 at the professional Domotex fair in Hannover, N.Vrouyr won the international 'Carpet Cup Award’ for best carpet retailshop.

Noraryr Vrouyr had a sharp eye for quality and transmitted it to his son Tigrane who on his turn left it as a legacy to his son Christian. The more they traveled the more they kept the tradition alive to select only the best. Today Naïry perpetuates their work.

Four generations have made an permanent effort to promote carpets as being part of the artistic legacy of the Orient. Originality, authenticity and knowledge are a guarantee on all carpets offered by N.Vrouyr.

2023

2018

VROUYR2 Celebrates its 5th anniversary

2017

N. Vrouyr celebrates its 100th birthday

2016

Shone Puipia presents his collection at N. Vrouyr during to Be by ADAA.

Naïry Vrouyr becomes a certified expert (by the TMV in the Netherlands).

2015

N. Vrouyr and Vrouyr2 exhibit for the first time at Art Thema Gallery in Brussels.

2014

First year we occasionally opened the workshop to the public during the Open Bedrijvendag (Open company days).

2013

Opening of Vrouyr2

First participation in the Berlin Antique Rugs & Textile Exhibition (BARE).

Project with Walter Van Beirendonck. His design was executed in the workshops of Tufenkian Artisan Carpets in Nepal. The carpet goes for three months to Melbourne.

2012

Exhibition Undiscovered Minimalim, fabrics from Mazandaran, Iran
During the bookfair Mind the Book in Antwerp, lecture Flying carpets, a literary wrong track? by Christian Vrouyr.

2011

Exhibition of Art Deco carpets.

Lecture on Romanian Folk kilims at the ICOC (International Conference on Oriental Carpets) in Stockholm by Naïry Vrouyr.

Exhibiting modern carpets at Van der Voort Interiors in Mol during the Open House.

2010

At the professional Domotex fair, rewarded with the 'Carpet Cup 2010' for best carpet retailer.

Sahar exhibition

Release of the second collection of Viviane Tahan.

First participation in the Sartirana textile Show (Italy).

2009

Naïry Vrouyr travels through Rumania with Stefano Ionescu during a study-trip (Transylvanian rugs)

2008

Werner Weber (Zürich) exhibits his collection of Kilims at the N.Vrouyr gallery on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Open Door days of the Antwerp Antiquairs.

Naïry Vrouyr stays 3 months in Washington for an apprenticeship at the Textile Museum and two months in Izmir in a restoration workshop (ATC).

2007

Naïry Vrouyr starts working at the family enterprise.

2006

Carpets by French designer Viviane Tahan.

Blue: exhibition of indigo.

2005

85th birthday of the firm N.Vrouyr.

Opening of the library 06/10/05.

Exhibition of 6 rugs designed by 6 artists (Philip Aguirre, Carla Arocha, Tina Gillen, Yves Maes, Narcisse Tordoir en Ysbrant) and hand-knotted in the workshops of Odegard.

As part of the Quinzaine française a collection of carpets designed by Eileen Gray of the Manufacture de Cogolin was showed in the N.Vrouyr gallery.

2003

Odegard, Rare and original design carpets
Forum Modenatie 10-11-12 October

Naïry Vrouyr travels to Armenia and visits the Tufenkian workshops.

2001

Nagada: production of Egyptian weavers: rebirth of an old tradition. Carpets in the same spirit were produced in Nepal, especially for N.Vrouyr.

First participation to the Antique Fair in Amsterdam, PAN.

2000

Frank Lloyd Wright First exhibition in Europe of 20 carpets after the sketches of F.L. Wright, edited by the FLW Foundation.

1999

Jajim exhibition of iranian textiles.

Jol-e-asb: horse covers' exhibition.

1996

Wol in de Wolken (Wool in the Clouds): exhibition in cooperation with sculptor Albert Szukalski and poet Pjeroo Roobjee.

1995

Sarkis Khatchatourian reconstitution of a painting exhibition that took place in Antwerp in 1925.

1990

Presentation of the N.Vrouyr Price to 7 students of the Royal Academy of Antwerp for their projects for carpets. The pieces, executed in Nepal, were presented at the Royal Academy.

Exhibition Palace Carpets organized in the Campo Gallery in Antwerp.

1989

Participation to the Art Deco en Europe exhibition in the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels.

1988

Documentary exhibition about Armenia.

1987

Exhibition on the premises of a 15th Century Mamluk Carpet, lent by the Oesterreichisches Museum für Angewandte Kunst Wien, and carpets from the Smit van Gelder Museum Antwerp.

1984

Carpet "Egypt" by Elisabeth de Saedeleer and Paul Haesaerts goes to Les orientalistes et l'Afrique dans l'art belge in Brussels

1982

Grandson Christian Vrouyr becomes the first president of the Bota, the Professional association of Belgian retailers in hand knotted carpets.

1980

Documentary exhibition 60 years at the Komedieplaats.

1978

First participation to the Antwerp Antique Dealer’s Open House.

1973

Christian Vrouyr joins the firm and undertakes his first journey to Iran, Afghanistan, India and Nepal.

1969

Presentation of an exceptional ancient Kirman (11,00 x 8,00 m)

Tigrane Vrouyr travels to Kathmandu.

Reopening of the shop that now spreads over three buildings.

1966

First expansion of the shop.

1961

Tigrane Vrouyr’s first journey to the USSR.

1959

Tigrane Vrouyr buys in Iran and Afghanistan for the first time.

1957

Tigrane Vrouyr, Norayr’s son, becomes member of the Chamber of Antique Dealers of Belgium.

Tigrane Vrouyr visits Turkey.

1956

First participation to the Antique Fair of Belgium (salle Arlequin Brussels).

1955

Opening of a branch in Brussels, Avenue Louise.

1930

Universal Exhibition of Antwerp. N. Vrouyr rents 1/8th of the surface of the Persian pavilion. The other participants are Carakehian, Vanderborght, Vaxelaire, La Bourse and Boccara.

Yearly exhibitions (until 1980) at the Campo Gallery, Meir 47, in Antwerp.

1925

Opening of a branch in Luxemburg (Ave. de la Liberté). First carpet shop ever in the Grand Dukedom.

1923

Norayr Vrouyr collaborates on the Jewel Parade organized by the city of Antwerp.

1920-1930

Annual participation at the Commercial Fair of Brussels.

1920
N.Vrouyr settles at the Komedieplaats n° 4 in Antwerp.

1917

The Armeensch tapijtenmagazijn is founded in the Hague, Anna Paulownastreet.

1907

At the provincial exhibition in Saint Trond (Belgium), N. Vrouyr receives the silver medal.

1905

Norayr Vrouyr joins Carakehian a rug store in Brussels. He is in charge of the stand at the International Fair of Liège.

1903