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LIBRARY OF
WELLESLEY COLLEGE
PRESENTED BY
Mary Chamberlain
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V
THE MYSTERY OF THE
ORIENTAL RUG
THE
PRACTICAL BOOKS
EACH HANDSOMELY BOUND
AND IN A SLIP COVER
THE PRACTICAL BOOK OF
ORIENTAL RUGS
By DR. G. GRIFFIN LEWIS
New Edition. Revised and Enlarged
20 illustrations in color, 93 in doubletone, 70 text
designs in line. Eolding chart of rug charac-
teristics and a map of the Orient
Octavo. Cloth, $5.00 Net
THE PRACTICAL BOOK OF
GARDEN ARCHITECTURE
By
PHEBE WESTCOTT HUMPHREYS
With frontispiece in color, designed title and 125 illus-
trations from actual examples of garden architecture
Octavo. Cloth, $.5.00 Net
THE PRACTICAL BOOK OF
PERIOD FURNITURE
By
HAROLD DONALDSON EBERLEIN
AND ABBOT McCLURE
About 200 illustrations in color, doubletone and line
of the furniture of English Period, American Colonial
and Post-Colonial, and the principal French Periods
Octavo. Cloth, $5.00 Net
THE PRACTICAL BOOK OF
OUTDOOR ROSE GROWING
By GEORGE C. THOMAS, Jr.
72 perfect full-page reproductions in color and 8 half-
tone plates. Octavo. Cloth, $4.00 Net
UNIFORM IN SIZE AND STYLE
THE CURIOUS LORE OF
PRECIOUS STONES
By GEORGE FREDERICK KUNZ,
Ph.D., A.m., D.Sc.
With 76 illustrations in colors, doubletone and line
Octavo. Cloth, $5.00 Net
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
PUBLISHERS PHILADELPHIA
ISPAHAN SILK PRAYER RUG
Property of Nahigian Bros., Chicago, III.
An eighteenth century piece of the finest material and workmanship
with over a thousand knots to the square inch. The following is a
literal translation of the Arabic inscriptions with which it is covered.
"God, The Greatest of the Great."
" The Apostle believeth in that which hath been sent down unto him
by his Lord, and the faithful also. Every one of them believeth in God
and His Angels, in His scriptures, and His Apostles; we make no dis-
tinction at all between His Apostles. And they say, we have heard,
and they do obey; we implore Thy mercy, O Lord, for unto Thee must
we return. God will not force any soul beyond its capacity; it must
have the good which it gaineth and it shall suffer the evil which it
gaineth. Lord, lay not on us a burden like that thou hast laid on
those who have been before us; neither make us, O Lord, to bear what
we have no strength to bear, but be favorable unto us, and be merciful
unto us. Thou art our Patron, help us therefore against the unbelievers."
THE MYSTERY OF THE
ORIENTAL RUG
THE MYSTERY OF THE RUG
THE PRAYER RUG
SOME ADVICE TO PURCHASERS
OF ORIENTAL RUGS
BY
DR. G. GRIFFIN LEWIS
AUTHOR OF " THE PRACTICAL BOOK OF ORIENTAL RUGS
WITH FRONTISPIECE IN COLOR, 30 ILLUSTRA-
TIONS IN HALF-TONE, AND TEXT DECORATIONS
PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
1914
COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
PUBLISHED OCTOBER, 1914
2423B3
PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
AT THE WASHINGTON SQUARE PRESS
PHILADELPHIA, U. S. A.
INTRODUCTION
The three articles of which this monograph
is composed were written for magazine pnbK-
cation, but upon due reflection the author has,
instead, deemed it advisable to publish them
all under one cover; first, because of the kindly
reception which the public accorded his first
effort, "The Practical Book of Oriental Rugs";
second, because of the popular demand for a
low-priced book on the subject; and, finally,
because these articles contain information which
is found in no other book, and which should be
of special interest to those who know little of
rugs and who are desirous of learning something
without too much research.
Those who wish to pursue the subject further
would do well to read the work above referred to,
while those who have already done so will find
this one an interesting and useful supplement.
In this monograph the author has endeav-
ored to present in a concise form certain facts
that may enable the novice to more fully under-
stand and appreciate the beauty and interest
attached to these treasures of the Orient, and
hopes that it will serve well the purpose which
prompted its creation.
CONTENTS
PAGE
The Mystery of the Rug 13
The Prayer Rug ... 31
Some Advice to Purchasers of Oriental Rugs . 45
Characteristics of Rugs 73
Description of Plates 85
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Ispahan Silk Prayer Rug Frontispiece
No. 1. Symbolic Persian Prayer Rug 15
No. 2. A Sixteenth Century Persian Rug 17
No. 3. Chinese Zodiacal Rug 19
No. 4. Persian Prayer Rug 21
No. 5. Persian Silk Rug 23
No. 6. Symbolic Kirman Rug 25
No. 7. Shemakha or Sumak Hunting Rug 33
No. 8. Kabistan Rug 35
No. 9. Chinese Rug 37
No. 10. Indian Floral Prayer Rug 39
No. 11. Persian Silk Prayer Rug 47
No. 12. Anatolian Prayer Rug 49
No. 13. Child's Prayer Rug 51
No. 14. Meles Prayer Rug 53
No. 15. Meshed Prayer Rug (Tree of Life Design) . . . 55
No. 16. Beshir Bokhara Prayer Rug 57
No. 17. Tekke Bokhara Prayer Rug 59
No. 18. Karabagh Prayer Rug with Date 61
No. 19. Daghestan Prayer Rug. . . 63
No. 20. KuLAH Prayer Rug 65
No. 21. Tabriz Prayer Rug (Tree of Life Design) ... 67
No. 22. Ghileem Portrait Rug 75
No. 23. Kabistan Rug 77
No. 24. Beluchistan Rug - . . 79
No. 25. Kazak Rug 81
No. 26. Shiraz Rug 87
No. 27. Kabistan Rug 89
No. 28. Feraghan Rug 91
No. 29. Kurdistan Rug 93
No. 30. Mosul Rug 95
THE MYSTERY OF THE RUG
THE MYSTERY OF THE RUG
Seated by the fire-
side with your feet
upon the hearth rug
of silken sheen, did
you ever indulge in
reveries and en-
chanting dreams as
you gazed upon its
glorious vista of
color harmony?
If it was endowed
with the gift of
speech what a won-
derfully interesting story it could tell of
romance, adventure, deprivation or, perhaps,
tragedy ! Was it woven by the barbarous nomad
in his mountain tent, by the Persian in his
adobe hut, or by the Anatohan maiden as a
dowry for her future lord and master?
The history of many of these gems of the
Eastern loom is, to a certain extent, legible
in their weave, designs and colors. Every rug
13
14 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
~- has a story of its own written
it
♦
in one of the many dialects of
the world of imagination and
tradition. It may re veal history,
,j ., . family and tribal legends or the
elevation and declineof nations.
There are old masters in wool as well as on
canvas, each one of which has its own individu-
ality, carrying with it an air of Oriental splendor,
being full of mystic folk lore and telling much of
a bygone people and religion. He who loves
them and has a knowledge of the countries from
which they come and the people who made them,
not only appreciates their true value and mystic
charm, but understands more or less the deep
and confusing symbolism of the various colors
and designs, every one of which has a meaning,
though they may not always be understood
by the weavers who employ them at the
present day. Without a doubt many of these
well-known designs have been transmitted from
the earliest days and were associated with
the different religions of the time, such for in-
stance as that of the ancient fire and sun
worshippers, which even to-day have a few
devotees in parts of Persia.
No. 1. SYMBOLIC PERSIAN PRAYER RUG
16 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
*^
By com-
parison and
patient study
the connois-
seur has been
able to interpret the symbolic
meaning of many of the more
"^ common designs and thus become
acquainted with some of the traditions and
associations connected with them, but if a
more general knowledge of their symbolism
could be acquired it would greatly add charm
and interest and make a rug more valuable
even than would its harmonious and beauti-
fully blended colors.
It seems perfectly natural that the Oriental,
who is so passionately fond of symbols, should
profusely weave them into his fabrics, and so
it is that in many of these rugs the individuality
of the maker is so clearly expressed. Even the
little children, intent upon following certain
outlines of patterns peculiar to their locality,
give a distinct individuality to each rug by
mistakes and additions of their own. Likewise
sudden changes in designs and colors frequently
No. 2. A SIXTEENTH CENTURY PERSIAN RUG
18 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
show the imprint of more than one pair of hands.
Sometimes these changes are absolutely abrupt,
but more frequently they are similar but inexact,
as though the new weaver was endeavoring to
adapt his own method of weaving to that of
his predecessor.
There are many innovations in rug weaving
which are of deep significance to the Eastern
mind, such for instance as a lock of human
hair woven in as a love message, a few tufts of
undipped nap which are supposed to bring
good luck, or a bead or two to guard against the
evil eye, the belief in which is one of the most
fixed of Eastern superstitions.
The irregularity of design, which may appear
to be the result of accident or carelessness, is
frequently the intentional work of some devout
weaver to emphasize his belief that nothing but
Allah can be perfect.
Inscriptions are frequently employed. They
are usually in the Arabic language, which is
quite generally understood throughout the
Orient, and they are, as a rule, either quota-
tions from the Koran or verses of some famous
Eastern poet.
No. 3. CHINESE ZODIACAL RUG
20 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
The Oriental is passionately fond of flowers,
his idea of Paradise being likened to a huge
flower garden. He therefore weaves into his
rugs flowers of every description, especially those
which flourish in his native land, such as the
lotus, the iris or lily, the poppy, the rose,
the carnation, the chrysanthemum, and the
peony, all of which have their symbolisms
generally following that of their color.
The Persians, the Chinese and the Caucasians,
being liberal or Sheed Mohammedans, weave all
sorts of figures of birds, animals and men into
their rugs, but the Turks, being conservative or
Sunnite Mohammedans, never weave forms of
living creatures or beings, as it is forbidden by
the Koran for fear it might lead to idolatry;
besides, it is their belief that if they make a
form of any living thing they will be expected,
in the day of judgment, to endow it with a soul.
For the same reason, pictures containing forms
of animals and men are never found in Turkish
homes. The Turkomans and Beluchees are not
as liberal as the Persians or as conservative as
the Turks. They only occasionally weave forms
of animate objects.
No. 4. PERSIAN PRAYER RUG
22 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
From the earliest time
a great deal of importance
has been attached by the
people of the East to the
symbolic significance of
colors, which form no small
part of the cabalistic mean-
ing of designs. Among the
Mohammedans green
stands for immortality
and is regarded as a sacred color. For this
reason it was seldom employed by the ortho-
dox Mohammedan in weaving until within the
last decade or so. This is why so few antique
Turkish rugs are found with green, excepting
an occasional one of the prayer variety.
Red is the Mohammedan color for joy, while
with the Chinese it is the emblem of truth,
virtue and sincerity. It is used quite generally
in costumes and decorations for festivities,
especially the marriage ceremony. Blue in
Persia symbolizes the air. Among the Mongols
it is the emblem of authority or power, and
nearly throughout the Orient it is employed to
counteract evil influences. Every horse, camel
No. 5. PERSIAN SILK RUG
24 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
and donkey either wears a string of blue beads
around its neck or has a few tied to its mane
or tail to keep away disease and misfortune.
Yellow is the Chinese color of royalty, robes of
yellow being worn by the members of the royal
family. Purple also has always been associated
with royalty and accepted as the sign of imperial
power. White has ever been accepted as sym-
bolic of innocence of soul, of purity of thought,
of holiness of life. Hence the priests of the great
divinity Osiris were robed in white, and thus, too,
were the priests of Zeus. Black, suggestive of the
material darkness and gloom that follows the
withdrawal of the cheering light of day, is a meet
symbol of the spiritual darkness of the soul
unillumined by the sun of righteousness. Orange
symbolizes resignation and piety, and rose divine
wisdom.
A knowledge of the designs, colors and meth-
ods of weaving is no more interesting and fas-
cinating than is a knowledge of the uses for
which the rugs were woven.
It has long been a Turkish custom for a girl, as
soon as she becomes engaged, to weave a rug to
present to her future husband. It is her dowry
No. 6. SYMBOLIC KIRMAN RUG (Persian)
26 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
or marriage gift, and as it is a work of love, with
dreams, hopes and fancies for inspiration, the ma-
terials, colors and designs must be selected with
the constant thought of her lover and the work-
manship must be the best she is capable of giving.
It is a very old custom to cover the dead
before interment and the grave after interment
with a rug instead of with flowers. These grave
rugs are usually the combined handiwork of all
the members of the family and nearly always
have the tree design, usually the cypress, which
is symbolic of immortality.
The hearth or guest rug is always spread
before the fire upon the arrival of a guest, and
once a fugitive, fleeing from his enemies, enters
a tent and sets his foot upon the hearth rug, the
owner and his people are bound to defend him.
Even among the wild mountaineers to whom a
human life counts for little, guesthood is sacred.
The bath rug is usually presented to the bride
by her parents on her wedding day.
Rugs have always been used for religious pur-
poses as altar cloths, canopies, wall decorations
in the mosques and as spreads on which to kneel
in prayer. Every devout disciple of the Prophet
THE MYSTERY OF THE RUG 27
owns a prayer rug on which he kneels five times
a day when the hour for prayer arrives.
It is still the custom in some parts of the
Orient to give rugs to the mosques as thank
offerings for special blessings received, and fre-
quently the Mohammedan bequeaths a rug, when
he dies, to the mosque where he worshipped.
Every Mohammedan is supposed to make a
pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during his life,
at which time he usually takes one of his master-
pieces as a gift to the mosque. Such pieces,
woven with great religious zeal, usually repre-
sent the best dyes, materials and workmanship
that the district possesses.
It is quite evident that to the Oriental the
rug is an indispensable companion in his home
life, in his social life, in his spiritual life and
finally in his death.
Taking this into consideration, together with
the fact that these woven masterpieces, which
come from the mysterious recesses of Asia, are
but pages of a picture language, which unfold
themselves like the plot of a story, is it strange
that he who reads them is fascinated.^
THE PRAYER RUG
THE PRAYER RUG
A Temple rug, with a niche for prayer
That my lord's dark knees oft pressed;
The shield, the comb and the crescent there,
Are symbols his tribe was wont to wear,
Mine the weaving? then mine the prayer;
May Allah guard his rest.
Ruth Guthrie Harding
The Namazlik or
prayer rug, which from
its associations is de-
cidedly the most inter-
esting example of any class of textile fabrics,
and which has very appropriately been called
''a creed in color," originated with the Moham-
medans of Asia Minor for the purpose, no
doubt, of providing the worshipper with a clean
place on which to offer prayers, as it is unlawful
for the Moslem to kneel on an unclean place;
therefore the prayer rug is his constant com-
panion at home and abroad.
Every faithful follower of the Prophet owns
one, more or less valuable, according to his
means, which he clings to devoutly and upon
31
32 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
which he prostrates himself five
times a day; at daybreak, nine
A. M., noon, five p. m., and eight
p. M., at which hours the Muez-
zins from the balconies of the
minarets issue the call to
prayer. In obedience to the
laws of the Koran, he first removes all money,
jewelry and ornaments from his person in order
that he may appear before God in the most
abject humility; then, after combing his beard,
he spreads his rug with its niche pointed toward
Mecca, that hallowed city whither, tradition
tells us. King Solomon was transported upon a
fabulous green carpet, and whence more than
three hundred years later Mohammed made his
pilgrimage.
After placing a cake of dried earth from this
holy city in the angle of the niche, he sits upon
the lower portion of the rug with his heels
close together, outstretches his hands and rev-
erently prostrates himself with his forehead
resting upon the sacred earth so that the law
of the Koran that "the head must be bowed
to the ground" might be carried out. In this
No. 7. SHEMAKHA OR SUMAK HUNTING RUG
34 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
position nothing will interfere or distract his
attention from his worship as he repeats some
verses from the Koran; or, more frequently,
the following: "In the name of God, the com-
passionate compassioner. Praise be to God, the
Lord of the worlds, the compassionate compas-
sioner, the Sovereign of the day of judgment.
Thee do we worship and of Thee do we beg
assistance. Direct us in the right way; in the
way of those to whom Thou hast been gracious,
on whom there is no wrath and who go not
astray."
The niche of the prayer rug is intended to
represent the mihrab or upper arch of a Moham-
medan mosque, all of which are built with their
axes extended in the direction of Mecca. This
niche varies in shape according to the style of
mosque architecture in the locality from which
the rug comes; thus in Persia it is usually com-
posed of curved lines, while in Asia Minor,
Turkestan and the Caucasus it is severely
rectilinear. Those of the Persian and Turkish
classes are pointed, while those of the Caucasian
and Turkoman classes may be either pointed
or flat on the top, more frequently the latter.
No. 8. KABISTAN RUG (Caucasian
36 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
The colors and decorative character also vary
in different localities. Frequently a mosque
lamp of floral design hangs from the niche, on
either side of which are two columns intended
^ no doubt to represent the two large altar
candles of the mosque. Cross panels,
either above or below, or both above and
below the prayer field, are frequently
found in many of the Turkish pieces, but seldom
in those of any other class.
In size, prayer rugs vary from two and one-
half to four feet wide by four and one-half to
six feet long. Small ones are frequently made
for children, and occasionally one is found with
two or more niches, as if intended for a whole
family. Sometimes the owner's name and fre-
quently special emblems of local significance are
worked into the rug, especially in and around
the niche, such for instance as the articles used
No. 9. CHINESE RUG
38 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
by the pious Mohammedan, Hke the compass
with which he determines the direction of Mecca,
the comb with which he combs his beard, or the
Moslem rosary consisting of ninety-nine beads,
one for each of the ninety-nine
imi illl "^""^^ °^ '^"^''- . F'-«q"«"t'y ti^«
form of a hand is woven on each
side of the niche, which are suggestive that the
worshipper's hands be placed there while pray-
ing, and in many of the Turkish and Caucasian
pieces there is a small rhomboidal figure just
above the niche where the suppliant places the
bit of earth which he has brought from Mecca.
There are never any representations of animate
beings, either in the designs of the rug or in
the places where the Mohammedans exercise
their devotions, this being forbidden by God,
and any prayers offered where such figures are
to be seen are devoid of merit.
The women are not permitted to join in pub-
lic prayers at the mosque, but must offer their
devotion in private places and never before men.
Some authorities claim that there are prayer
rugs of every weave. This may be true, as the
Mohammedans are scattered well over all the
No. 10. INDIAN FLORAL PRAYER RUG
40 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
rug making countries, but as accurately as we
can ascertain Hamadan and Saraband prayer
rugs are never seen in America, while Shiraz,
Chichi, Feraghan, Senna, Meshed, Bijar and
Shemakha prayer rugs are rarely seen.
The following sketch of some of the most
common forms of the prayer niche will be of ma-
terial assistance to the reader in differentiating.
PERSIAN, 1, 2 and 3 : TURKISH, 4, 5, 6 and 8; CAUCASIAN, 5, 7 and 8 ;
TURKOMAN, 5 and 7
The great majority of prayer rugs seen in
this country were made solely for trade and not
for religious purposes. This is especially true
of the Persian pieces; the Mohammedans of
that country, being more scrupulous than those
of the other rug making countries, are unwilling
that their ''Namazliks" be tramped on by the
THE PRAYER RUG 41
feet of infidels. These commercial pieces may
be most attractive in color, design and work-
manship, but they do not possess the interest
of some of the old pieces in which the well-
worn nap shows where the devotee's knees and
hands have pressed for several generations.
Such pieces are very desirable to possess on
account of their excellent workmanship, their
artistic designs and color combinations, their
rapidly increasing value, and, finally, because
of the romance and sentiment which they
arouse, for surely they have not only served the
faithful Mohammedan in his response to the
call of prayer, but they must embody many a
prayer in their very texture.
SOME ADVICE TO PURCHASERS OF
ORIENTAL RUGS
SOME ADVICE TO PURCHASERS
OF ORIENTAL RUGS
Thirty-five or forty years
|i ago few American homes
possessed even one Oriental
rug, but now, not only the
wealthy but people of moderate
means have become interested and
are purchasing them in accordance
with their resources. This fact is
proven by the United States cus-
tom house statistics, which show
that the importation of the
Eastern rugs previous to 1892
amounted to $300,000 annually,
whereas, at the present time, it
is in the neighborhood of $5,000,000 with a steady
increase each year.
The increasing use of hard wood and mosaic
floors, even in buildings of moderate cost, also
calls for their more general use; besides, the once
prevalent idea that they were intended only for
the wealthy is rapidly being discarded and the
45
46 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
people are beginning to realize that in the end,
good, well-selected Oriental rugs make as cheap
a floor covering as anything in the textile class.
Money paid for good rugs is well expended, for
with age they improve in color and sheen as well
as in value. This is due in part to the fact that
in the Orient the wool is so prepared that little
of its animal fat is destroyed and also to its
treatment with vegetable dyes, which have a
tendency to preserve the elasticity of the wool
fibre instead of making it brittle as do the aniline
dyes. Stocks may fluctuate and may depreciate
in value, but good Oriental rugs, if purchased at
a fair price, will do neither.
It is a mistaken idea that the more modern
and cheaper rugs are always inferior in wearing
qualities to the older and more expensive pieces.
In many instances they are superior. The
wearing qualities do not depend so much upon
the number of knots to the square inch as they
do upon the length of the pile and the manner
in which the knots are tied, those which are tied
tightly being more durable than those which are
loosely tied and those with a long nap being
equally more durable than those with a short
No. 11. PERSIAN SILK PRAYER RUG
48 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
nap. Strange as it may seem, the majority of
the more expensive pieces have a short nap,
while the majority of the less expensive pieces
have a long nap. In the former, where the nap
is so short, the knots must be tied closer together
in order to hold well.
Nothing adds more to the beauty of the home
than do Oriental rugs, when carefully chosen
with reference to designs and colors. They
impart richness, represent refinement and have
a distinct individuality.
Remarkable as it may seem, the people have
been accustomed to paying good prices for
»g-!,>y.%. _ -"(.JrV •%>■>_
No. 12. ANATOLIAN PRAYER RUG
50 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
Oriental rugs without knowing anything about
them further than to be able to recognize cer-
tain types like the Bokhara with its character-
istic octagon or the Saraband with its familiar
pear design, which have become so well known
that they are easily recognized.
The buyer hitherto has selected what pleased
him most, depending entirely upon the sagacity
of the dealer often to learn later that he had
been sadly defrauded. The problem of rug
buying is therefore a complicated one which, in
many instances, is fraught with perplexity and
disappointment. Of course, a connoisseur could
be called upon to assist in the selection, but it
would be better for one before purchasing to ac-
quire some knowledge of the characteristics of
the more common varieties as well as the different
means employed in examining them. This can be
easily and quickly done by consulting some prac-
tical book on the subject which is reliable, con-
cise and interestingly written. Such a book will
stimulate an interest and create many rug enthu-
siasts, while the dishonest methods of selling rugs
will only become unprofitable with the increase
of the essential knowledge among buyers.
^ 'P ^^ - *^f;rMJLrfi*m>]I^AJ?MMMi»^ it^fjip'jwMy li^ - ff ■ay:!? ' ,i^ fl*g-r«gi
No. 13. CHILD'S PRAYER RUG (Daghestan)
52 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
Western intercourse is making rapid advance
upon the conservatism of the Orient, demanding
rugs of Oriental weave but with Occidental
dyes and, to a certain extent, designs also.
Some dealers who are honest and who know
will honorably tell you whether a rug is chemi-
cally dyed or not, while many others, know-
ing the average buyer is unable to tell for
himself, either fail to say or deliberately lie.
It is this sort of dealing that has inspired
so great distrust of the Oriental trade, and
many innocent dealers have suffered with the
guilty.
The novice is unable to make a fair compari-
son of prices, as frequently rugs, which appear
to him to be quite alike and equally valuable,
may be far apart in actual worth. First of all,
he should protect himself by patronizing a good,
reliable, well-established firm in whose fair
dealings he has confidence, then be willing to
consider their advice. He should shun dealers
who do not mark the price upon each piece and
he should not expect to find good rugs among
the badly washed and second-class stocks of
the itinerant auctioneer.
No. 14. MELF.S PRAYER RUG (Turkish)
54 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
Frequently dealers mark rugs according to
their attractiveness in designs and colors in-
stead of according to their real worth from a
standpoint of materials, dyes and workmanship.
Therefore, one who is a connoisseur may fre-
quently obtain good, honest pieces at the same
prices he would have to pay for inferior pieces.
The average buyer, however, will, nine times
out of ten, select the "doctored" pieces and pass
over the honest ones, as they are somewhat
brighter and do not appeal to his artistic taste
as much as do the ones whose colors have been
artificially subdued. Realizing this fact, the
great majority of importers have 95 per cent, of
No. 1.5. MESHED PRAYER RUG (Persian)
Tree of Life Design
56 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
their rugs chemically washed in a solution of
chloride of lime. Some time ago the writer
inspected the large stock of a prominent New
York importer and, before leaving, congratu-
lated him upon the large number of ''undoc-
tored" pieces which he had. The dealer's
reply was, *'If you had called a week later you
could not have offered your congratulations, as
nearly every *undoctored' piece here goes
into the wash to-morrow." He further stated
that he seldom could sell rugs until the
colors had been chemically subdued and the
artificial sheen had been established. This
being true, we can hardly blame those houses,
which have large expenses and great competi-
tion, for catering to the public demand. Occa-
sionally, however, we meet with a dealer whose
artistic love is stronger than his desire for gain.
Some time ago I called upon a prominent Fifth
Avenue dealer. In response to my card he
presented himself in person. I told him that
I wished to look at some rugs. He immediately
ushered me into a small room at the back of the
store, where he showed me a beautiful assort-
ment of antique pieces. Being unable to find
No. 16. BESHIR BOKHARA PRAYER RUG (Turkoman)
58 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
one of the desired size, I asked
as we passed through the main
store, which was filled with
rugs of all sizes, ''Do you sup-
pose you could find anything
here?" His reply was that
every piece in that room was "doctored," that
he would show them to no one, but left that
distasteful task to his clerks.
Few dealers, with the exception of an occa-
sional large one, ever handle antiques. For
such we must go to those who specialize in them.
Dealers in antiques are comparatively few and
are becoming fewer each year, as the antiques
are rapidly becoming scarce. Ten years ago,
when wool was more plentiful and time was of
little value in the Orient, the supply of old
pieces seemed inexhaustible and they could be
had at moderate cost, as the people of the East
were willing to dispose of their old rugs when
there were plenty of weavers ready to make
new ones. To-day, however, it is quite different,
and old pieces are difficult to find at any price.
Importers of all countries have sent their repre-
sentatives into the Orient, who have made a
il ^M llki'ffigra
•rag]'
<r>
o
No. 17. TEKKE BOKHARA PRAYER RUG (Turkoman)
60 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
house to house canvass, buying up all the good
old pieces with which the people were willing to
part, and within the last few years, according to
a prominent authority, many of these old pieces
have been bought back by traders from Con-
stantinople and taken back east to be sold
over again to western purchasers at many
times the original price. Old rugs seem to
vanish in classes; for instance, five years ago
choice Sarabands could be had in abundance;
to-day we may search many wholesale stocks
without finding a single one, and when they are
found they cost many times what they did five
years ago.
For the past few years the Bokharas have
been plentiful and now they are beginning to
grow more scarce. In a few years they will be
as difficult to find as the Sarabands now are.
The best rugs for the money now on the
market are the Kurdish products. Most of
them are honestly made and honestly dyed,
being of good material and with a long nap,
which greatly enhances their wearing qualities,
and they can be purchased anywhere from $1.00
to $3.00 a square foot.
^^yk-ie^^
tek-k'v .i ii^-^ :i. W i^\. -si^
No. 18. KARABAGH PRAYER RUG WITH DATE (Caucasian)
62 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
There are three essential requisites of every
rug: namely, good material, good dyes, and good
workmanship. Select those which please you
most in size, color and design, then take time
and examine them thoroughly by daylight.
First, see if they lie straight and flat; examine
their condition and see if they are moth-eaten,
if the nap is badly worn or if the warp or woof
threads are broken in places; turn them over
and note if any repairs have been made. Inspect
the foundation threads, as sometimes they rot
and will tear with slight torsion. Examine the
material of the warp, woof and pile, noting
their relative strength. The warp should be the
heaviest, strongest and most tightly twisted ; the
pile should be next in weight and the woof the
lightest. If the warp is too light for the pile, it
will break easily. The longer the pile the heavier
the rug, conse-
quently the warp
should be propor-
tionately heavy.
The shorter the
pile the shorter is
the life of the rug.
Il^^^r;'!^ . .:i'^{S''i^^^^^^M^::^^^^^
No. 19. DAGHESTAN PRAYER RUG (Caucasian)
64 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
Do not reject a piece because the black or dark
brown areas of wool are worn low, unless such
areas are large. This condition is a proof of antiq-
uity and makes the piece all the more valuable.
Neither are meritorious old pieces to be discarded
on account of a few imperfections, which can be
beautifully restored by an expert repairer.
Notice the weave, the number of knots to the
square inch and the tightness of those knots.
The greater the number of knots to the square
inch the more expensive is the piece from the
standpoint of labor put on it, but a rug with
two hundred and fifty knots to the square inch
will not necessarily wear better than one with
one-fifth as many, providing the latter are well
tied. Notice if the patterns are well drawn and
show a proper balance, also if the color tones
are harmonious with one another. Test the
dyes. Shun faded pieces. Old vegetable-dyed
rugs may have subdued colors but they are
never dead in tone and the same color will
prevail throughout the length of the pile,
whereas in the chemically dyed product there
is usually a great contrast in color on the sur-
face and deep down next to the warp threads.
No. 20. KULAH PRAYER RUG (Turkish)
66 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
It is generally necessary nowadays when select-
ing a large rug to accept a washed piece, but
when smaller rugs will meet the requirement it
is wiser to choose the older, unwashed pieces,
which as a rule are more beautiful and cost
no more. The rugs which are particularly
to be avoided are those the life of which
has been greatly shortened by the artificial
aging process. An examination of some of the
higher priced rugs in which vegetable dyes are
more likely to have been used will frequently
enable one to better judge the dyes of the
cheaper grades.
Having completed the examination and made
your selection, do not buy without first having
the rugs sent to your home for a few days on
approval, where you can study them more
leisurely and get an idea as to whether or not
you would soon tire of the designs and colors.
In considering the cost of Eastern rugs it is
best to recognize at the beginning the fact that
desirable pieces cannot be bought for a song.
Twenty -five or thirty years ago good rugs were
abundant and proportionately cheap, but to-day
they are scarce, so much so in fact that in many
No. 21. TABRIZ PRAYER RUG (Persian)
Tree of Life Design
68 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
stocks less than 10 per cent, of them are worth
looking at. When we consider that the govern-
ment duty on Oriental rugs is nearly 50 per cent.,
not to mention the various profits to be made,
we wonder that they can even be bought at the
current market prices.
The value of a rug depends upon the number
of knots to the square inch, upon the quality of
its material and dyes, upon the amount of detail
in design, upon its age and its rarity. It is
only the wealthy enthusiast who can afford the
choice antiques. Upon them no fixed value
can be placed, but the various kinds of modern
rugs, good or bad, have something like a uni-
form value, according to size. There are being
made in the Orient to-day many beautiful rugs
in which the materials and workmanship are
of the best. Many of these are as good as, and,
in some instances, better than, the antiques
from the same localities. The principal objec-
tion to them is that the colors are not so sub-
dued and the sheen so pronounced as in the
older pieces.
The cost of furnishing a room with such rugs
depends — first, upon the use for which the room
SOME ADVICE TO PURCHASERS 69
is intended; second, upon the kind and amount
of furniture which it contains, and, third, upon
the size of rugs desired; thus, a bedroom with a
bed, dresser, wash-stand, etc., will require much
less floor covering than will a living room, recep-
tion room or hall, and where large rugs are de-
sired, more floor covering is required than where
small ones are used; besides, the former will
usually average in cost more per square foot
than will the latter. In bedrooms, where small
rugs are always preferable, the average amount
of floor covering required is from three-eighths
to one-half of the floor space, while in most
other rooms it is from one-half to five-eighths
when small rugs are used and from five-eighths
to three-fourths when one large rug is used.
Good rugs of medium
sizes can be had from ^
85 cents to $1.25 per
square foot, whereas
those in carpet sizes
cost from $1.70 to $2.50
per square foot. It can
be readily seen, there-
fore, that to furnish a
70 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
bedroom fourteen by sixteen feet would cost
from $72 to $140, while to furnish a living-
room sixteen by twenty-six feet with small pieces
would cost from $125 to $240, and with one large
carpet from $400 to $600.
In the following section is given a list of some
of the Oriental rugs which can be bought to-day
at moderate prices. For the instruction and
guidance of the reader, the number of knots to
the square inch, the size, the prices per square
foot and the individual characteristics are
mentioned.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RUGS
CHARACTERISTICS OF RUGS
Thoroughly detailed information of the rugs
mentioned in this book, as well as all others, is
given in the author's " The Practical Book of
Oriental Rugs."
PERSIAN
GOREVAN
Knots, 48 to 180; length 10 to 26 ft.; width 6 to
10 ft.; cost, $1.25 to $3.50. Excellent wearing
qualities. Many of the modern ones are just
as good as, and in some instances better than,
the antiques. They seldom come in small sizes.
BIJAR
Knots, 48 to 120; length 6 to 18 ft.; width 3 to
14 ft.; cost, $1.00 to $4.00. Thick, heavy and
durable.
MAHAL AND MUSKABAD
Knots, 30 to 112; length 10 to 20 ft.; width 8 to
15 ft.; cost, $1.00 to $3.00. Come in carpet
sizes only. Mostly commercial. Watch for
aniline dyes.
73
74 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
SHIRAZ
Knots, 42 to 196; length 4 to 12 ft.; width 3 to
8 ft.; cost, $1.25 to $3.00. Often crooked and
too Hght to He well.
KHORASAN
Knots, 80 to 375; length 5 to 25 ft.; width 3 to
18 ft.; cost, $1.50 to $3.50. Mostly carpet
sizes. Soft, pliable and pleasant to tread on.
Suitable for living and dining rooms.
TURKISH
KURDISTAN
Knots, 36 to 90; length 6 to 18 ft.; width 3 to
15 ft.; cost, 75c. to $3.00. Mostly medium
sizes. Good wool, long nap, dark colors, good
workmanship and splendid wearing qualities.
As free as any from outside influences and
one of the best rugs on the market for the
money.
ANATOLIAN MATS
Knots, 36 to 150; length l}4 to 5 ft.; width 1 to
4 ft.; cost, $1.25 to $3.00. Serviceable, but
vegetable-dyed ones are rather scarce.
No. 22. GHILEEM PORTRAIT RUG
76 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
BERGAMA
Knots, 60 to 180; length 4 to 8 ft.; width 2^ to
5 ft.; cost, $2.00 to $3.00. Good wool, long nap
and nearly square in shape. Designs usually
large for size of rug.
MOSUL
Knots, 36 to 80; length 4 to 20 ft.; width 2 to
4 ft.; cost, $1.00 to $2.00. No very large sizes.
They are thick and lustrous, lie well and are
among the best for service on the market.
CAUCASIAN
KABISTAN
Knots, 80 to 224; length 5 to 20 ft.; width 23^
to 5 ft.; cost, $1.00 to $3.00. No carpet sizes.
Good weave, short nap and geometrical designs.
Thin and flexible but lie well as a rule.
SHEMAKHA OR CASHMERE
Flat weave, 10 to 20 rows to the inch; length
4 to 12 ft.; width 3 to 7 ft.; cost, 75c. to $1.75.
A pileless rug with designs similar to those of
the Kabistan. Durable but lack animation.
Good pieces in all sizes may be had at reasonable
cost.
e,^.,,.^.. r.Aw^:^
mA.
No. 23. KABISTAN RUG (Caucasian)
78 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
SHIRVAN
Knots, 30 to 108; length 5 to 20 ft.; width 3 to
6 ft. ; cost, 50c. to $2.00. No carpet sizes. Often
contain goats' hair. A small percentage of good
pieces among those of modern make.
KARABAGH
Knots, 30 to 120; length 4 to 10 ft.; width 3 to
5 ft.; cost, 50c. to $1.50. Usually small sizes.
Among the cheapest and poorest of the Cauca-
sian fabrics, although an occasional good piece
may be found.
KAZAK
Knot, 36 to 120; length 5 to 8 ft.; width 3 to
6 ft.; cost, 75c. to $2.00. Geometrical designs
and bright colors. Thick, heavy, soft and dur-
able. One of the best Caucasian rugs to be
found on the market to-day.
TURKOMAN
KHIVA BOKHARA OR AFGHAN
Knots, 48 to 96; length 6 to 12 ft.; width 4 to
9 ft.; cost, $1.25 to $2.00. Octagon design and
dark red colors predominate. Mostly in carpet
sizes. Contain considerable goats' hair, the odor
of which may frequently be noticed in damp
No. 24. BELUCHISTAN RUG
80 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
weather. One of the best inexpensive rugs and,
with the exception of the Yomud, is about the
only antique left which comes in carpet sizes.
YOMUD BOKHARA
Knots, 50 to 180; length 5 to 20 ft.; width 4 to
10 ft.; cost, 75c. to $2.50. Few small pieces.
Designs consist principally of octagon and dia-
mond forms. This and the Khiva Bokhara
are about the only two antiques in carpet size
that are found in the market.
BELUCHISTAN
Knots, 30 to 120; length 3 to 11 ft.; width 5 to
8 ft.; cost, 75c. to $2.50. Usually in mats and
medium sizes. One of the last to be affected by
outside influences. Dyes are usually good, but
of late few *'undoctored" pieces are found.
No. 25.
KAZAK RUG (Caucasian)
Palace Design
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES
SYMBOLIC PERSIAN PRAYER RUG
No. 1, Page 15
Property of H. B. Claflin Co., New York City
Field represents a garden composed of various
kinds of trees through which winds a path. In the
foreground are two men and a woman performing
a sword dance to the accompaniment of string
music rendered by the two women under a spread-
ing tree. A shepherd with his crook is defending
a lone lamb from a wolf or dog. In the back-
ground is a serpent twined around a tree, a rabbit
in the grass, and a deer and goat being chased by a
wild animal. On either side of the mihrab is a tree
on the lower branches of which is an ape hanging^
by one hand and teasing a lion by reaching down
and tickling him with a branch which he holds in
his other hand, while high up is perched a large
bird resembling very much in shape the turkey and
an animal resembling a panther. Above the mihrab
is a crossed panel carrying an inscription in Arabic.
The main border stripe is composed of a series of
houses and tombs alternating in twos.
A SIXTEENTH CENTURY PERSIAN RUG
No. 2, Page 17
Property of the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts,,
New York City
Note the eight birds in the periphery of the central
medallion, also the animals in pairs throughout the
85
86 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
field. They are leopards, tigers, cows, deer, and
dogs interwoven with floral forms. In each corner
of the field are fruit trees with birds in the branches.
The main border stripe carries the celebrated Shah
Abbas design.
CHINESE ZODIACAL RUG
No. 3, Page 19
Property of The Tiffany Studios, New York City
The zodiacal animals that guard the hours of the
Chinese day and night appear in the main border
of this rug, though they are not arranged in con-
secutive order, which is as follows:
One to three the ox
Three to five the tiger
Five to seven the hare
Seven to nine the dragon
Nine to eleven the serpent
Eleven to one the horse
One to three the goat
Three to five the monkey
Five to seven the cock
Seven to nine the dog
Nine to eleven the bear
Eleven to one the rat
In the central medallion chimerical lions and cubs
are at play with balls. The corners of the cream-
white field are marked off with delicately traced
scrolls in blue. Upon the field itself many
significant flowers, plants, and emblems are dexter-
ously wrought in shades of blue with occasional
|JgK.^E3t(3e30^nEC'4SK^^
No. 26. SHIRAZ RUG (Persian)
88 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
touches of red and yellow. The inner border carries
a succession of archaic geometric dragons which
alternate with blue floral forms. (Owner's de-
scription.)
PERSIAN PRAYER RUG
No. 4, Page 21
Property of the late Mr. Benjamin Altman,
New York City
This gem was made in North Persia about 1580.
It is similar to one which was in the Yerkes sale
and to another one which was shown at the recent
Munich exhibition of Mohammedan art. It has
beautiful floral designs with arabesques and Chinese
motifs in deep shades of red, blue, and yellow, many
of the designs being worked with light yellow or
silver thread in the ghileem style. The mihrab is
the Persian style, from which hangs a mosque lamp
which is covered with red, yellow, and pink flowers
on a green ground. The lower part of the field is
covered with various floral and tree forms in yellow
with pink blossoms. There are two border stripes.
The inner one has a yellow ground, the lower part
of which is covered with arabesques and the upper
part with Arabic inscriptions in blue which read
"May the Blessing of God rest upon them all.
There is no God but Allah (the true God) ; Moham-
med is the prophet of God. Ali is the saint of God.
God the exalted one says: Verily God and His
angels shower their blessings upon the prophet.
Oh ye faithful send your blessings with Him, as well
No. 27. KABISTAN RUG (Caucasian)
90 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
as offer your salutations unto Him." The outer
border has a blue ground upon which are rounded
octagons and oblong panels in gray, the latter con-
taining inscriptions from the Koran in black. Size
five feet five inches by three feet three inches.
PERSIAN SILK RUG
No. 5, Page 23
Property of H. B. Claflin Co., New York City
A symbolic piece of the Tabriz class. The fore-
ground of the field represents a body of water in
which lies the remains of a person who has been
drowned. A diver has evidently been employed to
go down and look for the body while the deceased's
friends remain on shore with their camels, awaiting
results. They are shaded by mythological trees
bearing numerous kinds of fruits and flowers. Note
the peculiar main border stripe of scrolls with alter-
nating animals and peacocks.
SYMBOLIC KIRMAN RUG
No. 6, Page 25
Property of S. Telfeyan & Co., New York City
The field of the rug is covered with the Tree of
Life, each branch of which supports a head of a
different animal. It is supposed to represent the
conflict between good and evil. The inscriptions
are quite different from the Arabic usually employed
by rug weavers and no one has been found who can
interpret them. It would add greatly to the interest
of the piece if some idea of their meaning could be had.
v;^/'";- .i ,-^'. y.-
No. 28 FERAGHAN RUG (Persian)
92 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
SHEMAKHA OR SUMAK HUNTING RUG
No. 7, Page 33
Property of Mr. A. U. Dilley, Boston, Mass.
A most unique and interesting piece. It depicts a
hunting party which is composed of fifteen horses,
seven camels and fifteen men. Find the fifteenth
man and horse. Each hunter is holding a falcon
and has two dogs. Note the different varieties of
game scattered throughout the field; also observe
that the camels' and horses' two eyes are both on
one side of their heads.
KABISTAN RUG
No. 8, Page 35. Size ^'-1" x b'-^"
Property of Mrs. Thomas E. Matthews, Mt. Clemens,
Michigan
A very unusual and attractive piece both in color
and design. In the centre is a peculiarly shaped
pole medallion and at each corner a quarter of an
octagon, all in light salmon-pink upon a field of rich
dark blue. The central octagon carries a dark brown
figure upon a light blue field. At various parts are
scattered swastikas, two of which are left-handed
ones. The latter are seldom employed by rug
weavers. It is quite unusual for a Caucasian piece
to have but two border stripes.
No. 29. KURDISTAN RUG
94 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
CHINESE RUG
No. 9, Page 37. Size 5'-7'' x 2'-6''
Property of Dr. E. B. Guile, Utica, N. Y.
A rare Chinese rug of the 18th century. The
entire ground of the rug is a subdued Hght golden-
brown. The field is filled with characteristic Chinese
designs. There is a central medallion with the
"circle of happiness" made up of peonies, and
ornate devices in terra cotta, blue, and white. The
balance of the field bears dwarf trees in jardinieres,
realistic pears and apples on blue plates, flowers in
pots, and elaborate corner pieces wrought in blue,
white and shades of salmon pink and terra cotta.
Three borders, the inner in two shades of blue,
relieved by dots of white; a main border of a Greek
key effect in blue, brown and gold on salmon-pink
ground; and an outer border displaying a diaper
effect in pink and brown on the gold ground. Other
devices in the field comprise a brush holder with
pen rack, and ornate hanging lanterns. A choice
weaving of great beauty and interest, and of un-
doubted antiquity. (Owner's description.)
INDIAN FLORAL PRAYER RUG
No. 10, Page 39
Owned by the Museum of Trades and Industry,
Vienna, Austria
An all silk rug, the designs of which are exclusively
floral with the exception of the half cypress tree on
either side of the field and the four guard stripes
No. 30. MOSUL RUG (Turkish)
96 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
which carry the letter S. It is from the court fac-
tory of the Great Mogul and could go back to the
15th or 16th century. The centre is of a beautiful
crimson spotted with numerous other colors, the
upper corners are in old gold spotted green and red,
the main border is dark green spotted red and brown
and the half trees are in sage green.
PERSIAN SILK PRAYER RUG
No. 11, Page 47. Size 7M'' x 5'
Property of Mrs. F. C. Soule, Syracuse, N. Y.
^ Almost attractive piece both in coloring and design.
The tree of life bearing at least eight different kinds
of fruit, and in its branches are found four different
kinds of birds in pairs. Note also the cypress trees
(emblems of immortality) on each side and at the
bottom of the field.
ANATOLIAN PRAYER RUG
No. 12, Page 49. Size 3'-3'' x 5'-S''
Property of Mrs. Thomas E. Matthews, Mt. Clemens,
Michigan.
A very unusual combination of designs and colors.
This particular form of prayer niche is seldom seen.
The field is of magenta with designs in light blue
and green, while the main border stripe is in light
blue with floral forms in yellow, magenta, red,
black and white alternating.
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES 97
CHILD'S PRAYER RUG (DAGHESTAN)
No. 13, Page 51. Size 2'-2'' x 2'
Property of Mr. K. Aleon, New York City
Prayer rugs of this size are exceedingly rare.
This one must have been intended for a very small
child. Note the hands in design on either side of
the prayer niche.
MELES PRAYER RUG
No. 14, Page 53. Size 4'-5'' x S'-6''
Property of Dr. E. B. Guile, Utica, N. Y.
An antique pra^^er rug, typical of Meles. Turkish
knot, seven horizontal by ten vertical, making
seventy knots to the square inch. The outer border,
of terra cotta, blue and lavender single flowers on
cream, enclosed by wide guard stripes in the Greek
meander in red and lavender. The main border, on
soft yellow, bears an ornate tripart floral device
often seen in antique Ghiordes, but used more or
less in other Asia Minor weaves. The flowers are
laid in reds, violet and blue, the latter showing
admirably the mottled effect so highly prized in
antique Meles rugs. The inner border encloses the
prayer field, and carries a waving vine in lavender,
bearing red and cream flowers on a beautifully
mottled blue ground. The prayer field is in a rich,
warm terra cotta, the mihrab laterally indented, as
is usual in Meles design, and exhibits conventional
98 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
floral motifs in yellow, blue, red and cream. The
ivory space above the mihrab contains character-
istic flower effects in reds and blues. All of the
blues in this piece are mottled, and the coloring
soft and beautiful throughout. No Meles can have
more charming and harmonious color tone than this
old gem, now well into its second century. The
sides are finished with a four-cord red selvage, and
the ends in medium red webs, the upper terminating
in a braid-like heading, fringed. The warp is of
two-strand yellow wool, while the woollen weft is
dyed red. (Owner's description.)
MESHED PRAYER RUG
No. 15, Page 55. Size 4' x 3'
Property of Mr. F. S. Hipes, Trinidad, Col.
Prayer rugs of this class are extremely rare. This
is the only one I have ever seen. It is extremely
fine in texture, having four hundred and forty-
eight Senna knots to the square inch, tied so closely
that it is quite difficult to separate the pile suffi-
ciently to see the woof or warp threads. The central
field consists of the tree of life in dark blue with red,
blue and pink flowers upon a background of rich
carmine.
The main border stripe carries the Herati design
in dark red upon a pale blue ground on each side
of which are narrow stripes of pink carrying alter-
nate dots of red and blue.
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES 99
BESHIR BOKHARA PRAYER RUG
No. 16, Page 57
Property of the Museum of Trades and Industry,
Vienna, Austria
A 17th century piece with rather unattractive
designs and quite unHke most rugs of the class.
The latch hook, the letter S, rectilineal flowers and
grotesque geometrical figures cover the field, while
the single border stripe carries the meander or wave
crest design.
TEKKE BOKHARA PRAYER RUG
No. 17, Page 59
Property of Miss Mary Reed, Syracuse, N. Y.
Invariably the central field of these rugs is divided
into four sections forming a cross. For this reason
they are generally termed "Khatchlie" by the
Armenians, that being the word in their language
which means cross.
KARABAGH PRAYER RUG
No. 18, Page 61
Property of the Author
The prayer field is filled with the rectilineal rendi-
tion of the pear design arranged with their stems
all turned in the same direction, and around them
is a frame of octagons which are quartered similar
to the Turkoman octagons. The niche is typically
Caucasian and within it is the date 1313 of the
100 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
Mohammedan year which is equivalent to 1896 of
the Christian calendar. A rather unusual main
border stripe on each side of which is a narrow stripe
carrying the conventional trefoil.
DAGHESTAN PRAYER RUG
No. 19, Page 63. Size 3'-5'' x 4'-10''
Property of Mr. D. M. Edwards, Syracuse, N. Y.
This piece is typical of its class in every respect.
The lattice field with each triangular space filled
with a miniature tree form, the angular prayer
niche and the Caucasian border designs are such as
are found in the larger portion of Daghestan prayer
rugs. Note the combs, ladders and gulab-ewers in
that portion of the field above the prayer niche.
KULAH PRAYER RUG
No. 20, Page Q5
Property of the Tiffany Studios, New York City
The highly ornate design in this antique rug has
both Ghiordes and Kulah features. With the ex-
ception of the profile flower forms in the wide border
the motifs in the design are formal rather than
realistic. The field is surrounded by the typical
curl border, a Kulah feature showing Rhodian in-
fluence, which strongly resembles a well-known
design in Chinese rugs.
The field is of hay color and the decoration upon
it and the space above it are of light blue. The
ground of the main border is dark blue, and the
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES 101
design is in shades of green, blue, red, ecru, and tan
color. (Owner's description.)
TABRIZ PRAYER RUG
No. 21, Page 67
Property of Mr. George Bausch, Syracuse, N. Y.
The border stripes are typically Tabriz both in
numbers and designs. The prayer field is filled
with the tree of life motif with the most grotesque
floral and leaf forms. The predominating color is
chocolate.
GHILEEM PORTRAIT RUG
No. 22, Page 75
A pileless rug made by binding a dyed weft thread
around the warp threads by means of a shuttle or
needle, being alike on both sides and leaving open
spaces between the warp threads where the changes
of color are made.
These portrait rugs are not particularly attrac-
tive to the Occidental, but they are greatly prized
by the Oriental and few are consequently seen in
this country. In the Orient they are used for wall
decorations the same as an oil or water colored
portrait is used by us.
KABISTAN RUG
No. 23, Page 77. Size 4'-4'' x 6'-2''
Property of E. W. Edwards & Son, Syracuse, N. Y.
There is nothing unusual or especially attractive
about this piece. It is reproduced here more espe-
cially to demonstrate that rugs of a fair grade can
102 MYSTERY OF THE ORIENTAL RUG
still be bought at moderate cost. This rug has over
twenty-six square feet and retailed at $32.00, about
$1.23 a square foot.
BELUCHISTAN RUG
No. 24, Page 79. Size 3' x 1'
A typical rug of the class both in designs and colors.
The serrated diagonal medallions in the field are
characteristically Beluchistan as is also the wide
webbing at each end in which are worked designs
in the ghileem stitch. Retail price was $15.00.
KAZAK RUG
No. 25, Page 81. Size 3'-7" x 7'-5''
Property of E. W. Edwards & Son, Syracuse, N. Y.
A real antique with long lustrous nap and splendid
dyes. The field is filled with four large geometrical
medallions which are found only in rugs of this
class. The border stripe carries the crab design. The
retail price of this rug was $25.00, just about $1.00
per square foot.
SHIRAZ RUG
No. 26, Page 87. Size 4'-6" x 7'
This field is filled with grotesque designs, each one
of which is supported by two lance-shaped leaves.
The three border stripes carrying alternate flower
and bird forms are especially attractive. Unlike
most rugs of its class it is entirely free of animal
forms with the exception of one small bird at the
left. The retail price was $30.00.
DESCRIPTION OF PLATES 103
KABISTAN RUG
No. 27, Page 89. Size 4' x 9'
A most attractive piece with its serrated, diamond-
shaped medalHons in dark bhie upon a salmon
background. Retail price $28.00.
FERAGHAN RUG
No. 28, Page 91. Size 8' x 4'-3''
An antique of fair quality and attractive colors
and designs. Retail price $40.00. A little over
thirty-three square feet at about $1.21 a square foot.
KURDISTAN RUG
No. 29, Page 93. Size 6' x 3'-9'^ Cost $37.50
The predominating color of the field is dark blue,
while that of the main border stripe is yellow. The
designs are in subdued shades of old rose, light
blue and red.
MOSUL RUG
No. 30, Page 95. Size 6M'' x 3^-10''
A very unusual design for this class of rugs, being
more like the Persian than the Turkish products.
The central serrated medallion and the periphery
of the field carry the Herati design upon a blue
field. The extremely narrow border is also foreign
to the products of Mosul. This piece was found in
the store of a Syrian and was marked $30.00.
Date
Due
MAY ^ • f'Q
JUL 2 ? K
71
•R21 '7
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Vifcto
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CSlTI)
Library Bureau Cat. No. 1137
WELLESLEY COLLEGE LIBRARY
3 5002 03210 4379
Art NK 2aOS . L64 1914
Lewis, George Griffin, 1865
The mystery of the oriental
rug
