Shopping

YSG + Tappeti Release Egyptian-Inspired Handcrafted Rug Collection

One of Sydney’s most exciting current designers, Yasmine Ghoniem of YSG, has collaborated with Tappeti on a 12-piece handcrafted rug collection, Real Majik. 

Yasmine was given free rein to design the range, drawing inspiration from her Egyptian heritage and recent visit to the Egyptian collection in Berlin’s Neues Museum. 

References to ancient deities and motifs are infused with a distinctly contemporary feel through the use of vivid colour and unorthodox shapes.

Yasmine tells us more about the collection, available now from Tappeti.

Written
by
Amelia Barnes

The Bes rug from Real Majik by YSG x Tappeti. Photography – Anson Smart

Tapetti provided YSG total creative control over the collection that references her Egyptian heritage and a recent trip to the Egyptian wing of Neues Museum in Berlin.  Photography – Anson Smart

Founder and CEO of Tappeti Karinna Gobbo, and YSG co-director Yasmine Ghoniem. Photography – Anson Smart

The Hathor rug. Object of Virtue terracotta vase by David Suckling from Bess. Photography – Anson Smart

The Seth rug. Floris Wubben stool from StudioALM and Alu chair by Piet Hein Eek from StudioALM. Photography – Anson Smart

The Seth rug. Floris Wubben stool from StudioALM and Alu chair by Piet Hein Eek from StudioALM. Photography – Anson Smart

The Thoth rug. Object of Virtue terracotta vase by David Suckling from Bess. Photography – Anson Smart

References to ancient deities and motifs are infused with a distinctly contemporary feel through the use of vivid colour and unorthodox shapes. Photography – Anson Smart

The Ra rug. DePadova chair from Boffi Studio. Photography – Anson Smart

The Neith rug. Meltingpot side table by Kooij from StudioALM. Photography – Anson Smart

The Bes rug. Fever Dreams chair by Laurids Gallée from OWN and StudioALM. Photography – Anson Smart

The Nut rug, which references Seba stars flickering across a decadent midnight blue sky. Vintage velvet lounge chair from StudioALM. Photography – Anson Smart

Writer
Amelia Barnes
24th of February 2023

Creators of fine handcrafted rugs and carpets Tappeti have teamed up with acclaimed design studio YSG on an exciting new collection. 

Real Majik is the first collection YSG co-director Yasmine Ghoniem has designed for the brand after years of collaborating together on one-off custom rugs for clients (including Zoe Foster Blake and Hamish Blake). 

Tappeti provided the designer total creative control over the collection that references her Egyptian heritage and a recent trip to the Egyptian wing of Neues Museum in Berlin. The colour ways, use of pattern, and symbolism on display inspired the punchy patterns, unique border designs, feature motifs, and interpretations of abstract landscapes seen throughout Real Majik.

‘My head was racing with ideas by the time I boarded the plane home, so the initial pencil drawings evolved over the 24 hour flight,’ says Yasmine. 

References across Real Majik include a constellation of Seba stars flickering across a decadent midnight blue sky, sarcophagi feet grounding cushioned sensations, and a solitary cat guarding the corner of a rippled rug.

Yasmine’s designs were fine tuned by the YSG team and translated by Tappeti into textile form. 

Ancient influences are balanced with contemporary colour choices, organic shapes, and playful details such as tassels, fringe movements, pom poms, and cut out check borders acknowledging the orderly pattern of hieroglyphics.  

‘Rugs tend to either have short fringed tassels at either end or a neat finish, so I played with alternatives—from rounded edges and corner baubles to cut-out checkerboard reliefs so you have a wonderful dappled effect between rug and floor finish,’ says Yasmine.

Exaggerated undulating pile heights and intricate raised details add a wonderful tactility and softness underfoot. 

All Real Majik rugs are hand-dyed, and either hand-tufted in New Zealand wool and artsilk; or hand-knotted in Nepal using Tibetan highland wool, hemp and artsilk. ‘Commercial production or machinery isn’t used in any production methods,’ says Karinna Gobbo, founder and CEO of Tappeti. 

Every rug is available in a standard 2.0 x 3.0 metre size, with some designs in additional sizes, and custom dimensions available to order.  ‘Every rug can be customised in terms of size and even colour preferences if desired,’ says Karinna. 

Real Majik is available to order now from Tappeti. Prices start from $4,633.

Recent Shopping