Comments from someone who came to see the carpet (purchased from truck standing on the periphery of the largest-gem-show-in-the-world):

“It is the most beautiful trapezoid I have ever seen!”

me: “it is not a trapezoid: if you regard any very long rectangle from one end, it will form the illusion of a trapezoid”

“How come it doesn’t have those long threads at both ends like most Persian rugs have?”

me: “I asked that too. It’s because people have complained that the ends get sucked in by the vacuum cleaner.”

“If anything gets sucked in around here, it is perhaps you. You took the entire carpet as a carry-on?? They didn’t make you check it in?

me: “hey, you’re talking about a very special carpet from Afghanistan: I would not hand it over to just anyone.”

“Beautiful trapezoid. Absolutely exquisite.”