Jan D. Winitz

Jan David Winitz

Jan David Winitz, President and Founder of Claremont Rug Company
Born (1955-04-15) 15 April 1955
New York, NY
Occupation art dealer
Years active 1980 - present

Jan David Winitz is an American art dealer who specializes in Oriental rugs from the 19th century, described as the Second Golden Age of Persian Weaving.,[1] ca. 1800 to ca. 1910. He founded Claremont Rug Company in 1980. He has clients who reside on five continents [2] and include more than four dozen Forbes list billionaires.

Life and career

Winitz was born in 1955, New York City, the younger of two sons. His father, Dr. Milton Winitz, was a biochemist who worked for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).[3] After graduating from high school in Palo Alto, CA, in 1973, he enrolled at the University of California (Berkeley).[4] He obtained a Bachelor of Arts double degree in English and German language and literature in 1977 and a master's degree in Education in 1978, from the same school. Upon graduation, he became a high school English and German teacher at Sonoma Valley High School, Sonoma, CA.[5] While teaching, he met his future wife, Christine, and together they pursued their mutual interest in antique Oriental rugs, buying and selling carpets privately.

In 1980, Winitz abandoned his teaching career, creating Claremont Rug Company with Christine at its present location, and became president of the company, a title he continues to hold. Starting with an initial inventory of 40 rugs,[2] Winitz developed a following in Northern California as a keynote speaker at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco in 1985.[6] By the late-1980s, Winitz built the Claremont inventory to nearly 700 rugs, obtained in private transactions, employing a network of buyer/collectors who sought rugs globally.[1] Currently, its inventory has grown to 3500 antique Persian and tribal rugs.[2] Its collection focuses on rare styles favor by collectors, including 19th century Persian Bakshaish, Ferahan Sarouk and Caucasian rugs.[1] Introduced to the world of antique Oriental rugs by a close family member while he was a young child, he purchased his first rug as a teenager. His first substantial acquisition a circa 1800 Persian Bakshaish “Dragon and Phoenix” rug purchased in 1974 still hangs behind his desk.[7]

Winitz has been interviewed and featured in many regional, national and international publications and art/antique periodicals, including Apollo magazine, Art & Antiques magazine, Art News magazine,Carpet Collector magazine, the Financial Times of London,[8] the New York Times,[9] Nonstop (a publication for private owners of Gulfstream aircraft),[10] Private Air/Luxury Home magazine[11] Robb Report and Robb Report Collector,[12] the San Francisco Chronicle,[2] the Wall Street Journall[13] and Worth Magazine.[14] In 1985, he authored the “The Guide to Purchasing an Oriental rug).[15]

Winitz’s clients currently reside on five continents[16] and include more than four dozen Forbes list billionaires.[2] Winitz has consistently held the opinion that the finest Oriental rugs from the Second Golden Age are exceptional works of art, recognized by rug connoisseurs but severely undervalued relative to other similar antiquities.[17] In 2014, he created the Rug Pyramid ™ as a means to distinguish the six levels of Oriental rugs that exist and their relative collecting and investment value.[18] He is a regular editorial contributor client publications produced by AXA and Chubb insurance companies. The Wall Street Journal wrote a feature article about Winitz “Persian Rugs Orient One Expert to Life on the Road” that appeared in its November 17, 2015 issue.[19]

Claremont Rug Company

Since its founding in 1980, Claremont Rug Company has acquired private collections of 19th century rugs from individuals and families located in North America, Europe and South America.[20] Claremont was introduced to the Internet in the late-1990s by John Warnock, long-time Silicon Valley client who was chairman of Adobe Systems, a major global technology company.[21] As of 2015, more than 60 per cent of Claremont client transactions involved the Internet. The company provides an in-home service in the United States which involves as many 100 rugs brought to a client’s residence for evaluation with Winitz as the onsite advisor.[22]

The Gallery has done virtually no advertising during its 35-year history, relying instead on editorial publications, self-produced catalogs, the website and direct communication with clients. It has not mounted an off-site display since 1985 and does not participate in auctions as buyer, seller or consignor.

In 2009, Claremont Rug Company was named a “Best of the Best” antique gallery by Robb Report magazine, the only rug dealer to have received the accolade[23]

External links

References

  1. 1 2 3 Emma Crichton-Miller (March 2015), “Collector’s Focus”. Apollo Magazine.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Herel, Susan (16 January 2011). "From Rugs to Riches". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  3. ↑ Winitz, Jan David (17 February 2012). "Antique Oriental Rugs: The Writing is on the Wall". Chubb Collectors Newsletter. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Hotel Bel-Air Magazine, “Claremont Rugs: A Reputation You Can Stand On,” vol. V, No. 1, 1997.
  5. ↑ Winitz, Jan David (12 December 2013). "The Heart and Mind of the Collector". AXA Art. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  6. ↑ "Claremont Rug Company Acquires Trove of 19th Century Oriental Rugs For Private Sale". Robb Report. 5 June 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  7. ↑ Winitz, Jan David (January 2014), “Symbolism And Tribal Cosmology In Antique Caucasian Rugs”. Carpet Collector.
  8. ↑ Brooker, Nathan (18 November 2011). "Where There's A Wall…". Financial Times. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  9. ↑ Winitz, Jan David (2 September 2008). "When the Cabin Becomes A Sales Floor". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  10. ↑ Marni Elyse Katz (Vol. 3, Edition 1, 2013), “Collecting for Form and Function”. Nonstop Magazine http://www.claremontrug.com/assets/pdf/press/ng_2013_06_26.pdf
  11. ↑ Gina Samarotto (August 2014), “Magic Carpet Ride”. Private Air, Luxury Homes Magazine http://privateair.uberflip.com/i/337862-july-august-2014
  12. ↑ Shaun Tolson (August 2013), “Dream Weavers”. Robb Report Collection. http://robbreport.com/home-and-design/dream-weavers
  13. ↑ Kelly Crow (June 18, 2010), “Rug Market Takes Flight”. The Wall Street Journal. http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704198004575310643634857392
  14. ↑ “Rugs to Riches” (March 10, 2010). Worth Magazine.
  15. ↑ Jan David Winitz (1985). The Guide To Purchasing An Oriental Rug: Publishers’ Group West. ISBN 0-930021-00-2
  16. ↑ Emma Crichton-Miller (March 2015), “Collector’s Focus”. Apollo Magazine.
  17. ↑ Shaun Tolson (August 2013), “Dream Weavers”. Robb Report. http://robbreport.com/home-and-design/dream-weavers
  18. ↑ Jan David Winitz (November 2014), “The Oriental Rug Market Pyramid”. Chubb Collectors. http://accent.chubb.com/oriental-rug-market-pyramid
  19. ↑ "Jan David Winitz interview with the WSJ". Claremont Rug Company. Retrieved 2015-12-07.
  20. ↑ Rufca, Sara (19 June 2014). "Stunning Houston Rug Collection is Gallery-Worthy". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  21. ↑ Smith, Scott S. (March 2002). "Putting Out the Red Carpet" (PDF). California CEO: 16–17. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  22. ↑ Winitz, Jan D. (11 November 2010). "Walkable Art: Antique rugs help create inspiring home atmosphere". Chubb Collectors. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  23. ↑ "Best of the Best 2009 Exclusives: Claremont Rug Company". Robb Report. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
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