That rug hunting experience sparked a deep appreciation in Fu for the beauty and craftsmanship of rugs. “It takes a lot of work, skill and patience to produce a rug. I just started wondering, why do people talk so much about other art forms, but not so much about rugs, even though they’re an art form too?” she mused.
As Fu began to read up more on rugs and spoke with rug sellers, she developed a particular admiration for vintage tribal rugs, woven by women from nomadic tribes. “Vintage tribal rugs are even more fascinating as they are made by nomads, who weave them as they travel. None of them were formally trained; it’s knowledge handed down through generations,” she shared
Many of the cultural symbols woven into the rugs also carry deep personal meanings. “They are woven into the rugs as a way to convey [the weavers’] hopes and dreams, their wishes for protection or a happy life. I just found that aspect so fascinating,” said Fu.
A CANVAS FOR RUGS
Over time, Fu’s collection grew from just one rug to around 20 pieces in her current collection. She collects them mostly from Türkiye and parts of Central Asia. While her passion for collecting stemmed from her desire to decorate her own home, she admits it eventually “got out of hand”. “I ended up acquiring more rugs than I have floor space for,” she laughed.
Fu also started an Instagram page (@micasa_fucasa) to share her love for tribal rugs and to showcase pieces from her collection. A quick scroll through her feed also reveals her passion for home decor and styling. Over time, she began occasionally selling rugs through the page.
The mid-century modern inspired aesthetic of Fu’s four-room HDB flat in western Singapore, where she lives alone, is perfectly enhanced by her vintage tribal rugs, which have a “beautiful patina from age and from use”. “I want my place to have a very lived-in feel, and vintage rugs lend that kind of vibe very easily,” shared Fu.
