274 RUGS AND CARPETS

ORIENTAL RUGS

Antique Oriental rugs are those that are more than fifty years
old. These rugs were made by the nomad tribes of southwest
Asia who wandered about seeking pastures for their sheep, which
provided them with food, clothing, and rug materials. The wool
was washed by hand and dyed with vegetable and animal dyes,
and the rugs were woven by hand. The designs were often sym-
bolical of the history of the family or tribe. Family pride, care,
and patience helped to produce rugs that were works of art. The
older ones are now in museums and in private collections.

Semi-antique Oriental rugs are newer unused rugs, made by
commercial methods, but not chemically bleached and glazed.
Some of these rugs have pleasing design and color.

Modern Oriental rugs comprise most of those that are available
for purchase. These rugs are made in the Orient by weavers who
have been gathered into factory centers to work on a commercial
basis. The wools are now chemically washed and dyed with
aniline dyes, and much of the rug is made by machinery. The
designs and colors have been adapted to suit the taste of American
and European rug merchants. Importers subdue the garish aniline
colors by an injurious process of bleaching with chemicals and
then retouch them and add an artificial gloss by means of glycerine
and hot rollers. These products are not works of art and should
not be confused with beautiful old rugs.

Oriental rugs are not now fashionable. They are difficult to
use because they attract too much attention to the floor, and be-
cause all other furnishings must be subordinated to them. For
correct use see page 282. Some owners of Oriental rugs have
had them bleached to very pale tints to accompany Modern fur-
nishings.

Some guides to prospective purchasers of Oriental rugs are: the
condition of a rug is important—damage results from age, wear,
moths, and beatings; the ivorkmansltip and materials are determin-
ing factors in the price; long, even, erect pile is most desirable; the
number of knots to the square inch is significant, 100 to 200 knots
denoting good quality. Some art factors are: small compact pat-
terns and many borders are desirable, central medallions are not;
strong color contrasts and sharp value contrasts should be avoided.