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Ex oriente

It is not only the sun that rises in the east – Oriental carpets, too, came from the east, albeit by ship. Just like every proper living room in the old Federal Republic of Germany had to be graced by an Oriental carpet, a carpet shop was an esential shop in all West German city centres.
Since its beginnings some 130 years ago ships delivered quality goods to the Speicherstadt – first dried fruits and later carpets.For the loading and unloading of carpets rope winches are used, exactly as it was done 100 years ago. The wooden pallet carrying the carpets was attached to a strong hawser and pulled up to the right floor of the storehouse by the labourers.
The first merchants from the Near and Middle East established themselves in the years after the war. When the political situation in their home countries became increasingly difficult other Iranian families followed and, another decade later, Afghan traders.