LIST O F ILLUSTRATIO NS.
' e F rontis iece A Persian B auty p .
' A Turkish B eauty
Knots Used in Weaving
Persian Women Weav ing
cr ons on u s—No Ins ipti R g . I
No . II
No . III
No . IV
No . V
No . VI
Muezzin Calling to Prayers from the B al cony o f a Minaret of a Mosque in Egypt
Kurdi sh Woman Carding Woo l
Silk Rug with Symboli ca l R epresenta tions
An t ue Kerman Ru Hunt n S cene iq g , i g
Arms and Armor Shop L st of I str n vui i llu atio s. PAGE Royal An tique Sinneh Rug 40
Ant ue S nne e resen n a o a onf r n C e e ce . 4 1 iq i h, R p ti g R y l
are An ue s a an Ru e resen n a o a R tiq I p h g , R p ti g R y l Pageant
ue Kerman e resen n o Ga ren An a a . tiq , R p ti g R y l d
An ue Kerman e resen n Tree of L fe and the tiq , R p ti g i Conflict b etw een Evil and Good
Antique Sinneh Rug
Persian Coat o f Arms
Antique Kerman Rug
Antique Anatolian Ghioerdez
Chess Players in a Ca fe in Albania
Zeibeks in Asia Minor
A Cafe in Damascus
Turkish Coat o f Arms
Street Scene in Ca iro
Ta - Ma a at A ra n a j h l g , I di
A Bit of Cosy Corner
Antique Samarkand
Street Scene in Beyroute C ONTENTS.
THE WEAVING
DYEIN G
SUPERSTITIONS
CLAS SIF ICATION
PERSIAN OR IRANIAN
TURKISH OR CAU CASIA N OR
TURKIS H OR TURCOMAN
BELOOCH OR
A D U WOR TO R G BUYERS . .
P EF E R AC .
My aim has been to give to the lovers of Oriental rugs a brief and comprehensive idea of this com l parative y unknown art . I make no pretension of this being a complete
as work, volumes could be written on this almost
inexhaustible subject . The information has been collected here and there during a residence Of several years in the
Orient . The trouble of preparing this book will be fully repaid if it to any extent satisfies the public craving for knowledge Of this art. My idea has been to give as briefly as possible intelligent information as to the different points
e concerning rug making, which I hope will prov of interest to those Who have a penchant for these treasures of the Orient ; gems full of the mystic
Of - folklore and splendor a semi barbaric people, yet with it all possessing such artistic beauty of de sign and execution that they appeal to the con nois eurs n s a d art lovers of every country . V . UED G JI .
riental Ru eavin O g W g.
We learn that the art of weaving was one Of the h of . Oldest industries mankind Long before C rist, straw and other coarse materials were woven to
a art make sort of floor covering in Babylonia, the soon spreading over Persia and other Asiatic
countries . Archeological discoveries made lately in Baby
lonia prove that rugs were in existence twelve or.
art thirteen centuries before Christ, and that the but may have been known long before that time, there is no data that can be found to prove this . In the books of Solomon and Ezekiel in the Old Testament we find mention made in several places
Of carpets, and the wealthy Romans and Greeks in the time Of Homer had some magnificent floor f coverings worth ortunes . The word carpet is either derived from the
La ta este or car o Bu s tin p s the Hebrew p s. g and 2 Oriental Rug Weaving.
r n a u r floo coveri gs were origin lly sed to sit, ecline and on and a sleep , lso for religious purposes, by the high priests of that period . The palaces of Pharaoh were garnished with the best makes Of his
a time . Superb hued c rpets were spread on the tomb of Cyrus and in front Of the throne of Em
eror art p Honorius . This Obtained a higher de gree of workmanship in Persia and Turkey than in
an of as y the other Asiatic countries, rugs consti d f tute the principal furniture o the people . The
homes of most of the . nomadic tribes consist of
or on a of mud huts tents, the e rthen floor which they spread a hasser (coarse straw matting) or
n b a a and re umud kete e ( he vy felt) , over these a
thrown the rugs or carpets . In the homes of princes or khans the reception room (or missafer Odase) is furnished with a sort - f a floor and o platform a few inches higher th n the ,
and of extending across the head sides the room . Over this platform rugs are spread for the honore d
on of re guests to sit , the center the floor being
Okkabaz and served for the slaves, (jugglers)
musicians . This mode Of living is carried on from time O riental Rug Weaving . 3 immemorial in Persia and most parts Of Asia
Minor. The number of rugs that are supplied to Europe and this country is a source of wonder to a great many people who cannot understand hOw such quantities can be produced when one considers the length of time it requires to make a single piece . But when one stops to think that the people who supply these very popular floor coverings have ab solutel no y nothing else to occupy their minds, n or a no ewspapers, no magazines books to re d,
a a en worries bout fashions in dress, and lthough dowed with the proverbial patience they will not perform any sort Of work which requires energy, it will be seen that they must have something to
and to while away their time, rug making proves
h i ~ u m n be both t e r am se e t and a source Of income . Children are born among these surroundings and at a e art and so an incredibly early g absorb the ,
a n it extends from gener tio to generation .
The Eastern method of weaving is ex
WEAVI G ceedin l of N g y tedious, consisting knots
n and stitches made with the fi gers, one
n are by one . Young Mahometan women a d girls r ent 4 O i al Rug Weaving. the l a at principa we vers, but times the whole family and a on neighbors t ke a hand a large piece . There
a n being no regular factories, so to speak, the we vi g is a on s of c rried in their homes, which con ist mud
or . a huts and tents, in the open air The regul rly employed weavers do not receive more than twenty
shahis Or to thirty Persian money per week, about
u twenty or thirty cents in o r money. Of course very skillful weavers command higher compensa tion.
There is no complicated apparatus used
LOOM for weaving rugs . All that is required is
a tez hiah or g loom, which is a very primi
a f tive f air, consisting Of four rough poles joined
a together with ropes, and regul ted according to the size of the rug to be woven . On these poles the warp is stretched vertically and a smooth stick is
r inserted between the warp for a shuttle . The wa p is kept uniform by stone weights hanging on both
weav sides Of the poles . The skilled and patient ers sit cross - legged or kneeling a trifle higher than the ground in front of the loom . But before com mencing to weave the rug they raise their voices to A Turkis h Beau ty .
n 6 O riental Rug Weavi g.
and of a r original, it depends on the taste the we ve
a or zoo whether the design be flor l, geometrical
logical .
Some of the no s Used in Weav n O r en a u K t i g i t l R gs.
To demonstrate the length of time it takes to
ma a ru sa a a 7x4 ke g, y fine Kermansh h, size feet, ea n O riental Rug W vi g. 7 we first figure how many square feet there are in the
x4 2 28 e piece ! 7 square feet, which is squar
has as inches . Now a Kermanshah rug at least
or 400 many as twenty knots to the inch, to the
a a of squ re inch, total knots in the whole
7x4 feet piece . A very skillful weaver cannot tie
or 1 80 n more than three knots in a minute, k ots in an hour, and if he works eight hours a day, it will take him almost four years to complete this work of art . The chief beauty in an Oriental rug consists in the harmonious blending of colors and the softness
Of the texture, which makes it very agreeable to the
a . n touch, as well as ple sing to the eye To Obtai such an effect the stock raised for this purpose is v a ery c refully looked after, and nothing but the
very purest wool enters into the fine pieces . Very Often the sheep or goat is covered over with
a sheet to protect the wool, which is Of a long, silky
and fibre, also to preserve its lustre . The finest grade of wools is Obtained principally from stock
raised in the province Of Khorassan and Kurdistan .
’ and Besides wool goats hair, sometimes other m ’ aterials, such as silk, camel s hair, linen, cotton and 8 r enta O i l Rug Weaving .
’ ’ are a hemp used in m king rugs . Hogs or dogs
a h ir is never used, as according to the Mahometan religion these are considered unclean animals . The process of dyeing the wool and other ma terials used in making rugs is done almost ex elusively by men, who are called boyajilar (or
one or o f dyers) , there being more these special ists in each district who prepare this yarn for the weavers in case they cannot do it in their own homes . As the great glory of a n Oriental rug is its ex
uisite q colorings, therefore a great deal of care is necessary in the dyeing process, which is a most
n difficult o e . The different colors are extracted from certain leaves, roots, barks and vegetable mat
and ter and also from flowers, by boiling reboiling or a of by process fermentation, until a satisfactory shade has been Obtained . Another requisite that is very necessary is that materials to be dyed should be very clean, and in the case Of wool it is first washed a number of times in cold water to remove all foreign matter and still retain the animal fat,
‘ which gives the wool such a soft and silky ap h pearance when woven into t e rugs . n 9 Oriental Rug Weavi g .
After the wool has been properly cleaned it is then dipped into the dye for a prescribed length of ob time, and when the desired shade has been tained it is spread out in the sun without having
ou been wrung t. Again care must be exercised that it is not ex
’ posed to the sun s rays for too long a time or the
has process to be gone over again . Of late years aniline dyes have been introduced into Russian provinces as well as some parts of
a s in Persia, although there are very strict l w
Persia forbidding their use .
Musaffer- ed- a - in The present shah, Din, Sh h
in Shah, has caused a law to be passed which is
a tended to protect home industry, and keep int ct the national art . This law forbids the importation of any European dyes, and also prescribes severe punishment for parties found guilty Of using these dyes as well as confiscation Of all goods in which they are used . One of the reasons that we find some Old rugs that have seen generations of wear and are still
of in a perfect state preservation, with the match
Of less sheen that time only gives, is on account the r enta e 10 O i l Rug W aving. wa ul and a y the Muss mans, for th t matter the
a of a Christi ns the East, tre t their rugs . They always remove their shoes before entering their
or on a homes, and either go barefooted put
abooch or p ( sort Of sandal) with soft soles, and t it is to this circumstance, no doubt, that ancien carpets that have embodied years of artistic labor remain in such beautiful condition .
Prior to fifty or seventy- five years ago the Persians and Turks made most Of the rugs for
own or their use to be presented to princes, mas
or ters and lords, to be given away as a token of love and esteem during the Mevlout (a holiday
our corresponding to Christmas, it being the birth day Of the prophet Mahomet) also as a wedding gift the blushing maiden always presented to her lord a piece of her dainty handiwork in the form of a rug or divan cover . Every one of these rugs have their own indi vidualit y, as they are altogether the creation Of the artists who weave them . They should be looked upon in the same light that we look on a bit Of fine tapestry or a painting
a as re Of gre t worth, they a the masterpieces Of the
a E st. n 1 Oriental Rug Weavi g. 1
To the novice and unpracticed eye there is a sameness in the beautiful Eastern weave . Of
a course, at superficial glance they do not see the
on one can artistic merit . But further study no fail to appreciate the marvelous blending of colors and the exquisite designs .
n as re And, comi g they do from the mysterious
a a air cesses Of Asi , these rugs carry with them th t of Oriental splendor which must give us some faint
of idea of the past glory these Asiatic tribes . We never find figures of man or animal on Turkish r Sunneh an and ugs, the Turks being Mahomet s, the teachings Of the Koran forbids this for fear it might lead to idolatry .
On a Sheed the other hand the Persi ns, being
a a and a an Mahomet ns, weave anim ls, birds lso hum
figures into their rugs and carpets . There is proof positive that this custom of weav ing human figures and animals has been prehistoric
a from the time Of Babyloni , whose people were s f a u as kill ul in we ving all sorts Of animals, s ch s and riffins as as phynx, dragons, lions, g , well
f a whole groups o hum n figures . Antique pieces of are of a such subjects , course, unobtain ble now. 12 O riental Rug Weaving.
But in the Kensington museum is shown a mag nificent collection Of this early period which has
of cost enormous prices . The preeminence the ancient Babylonian carpet weavers does not ap pear to have been lost by their successors . At the present time Persian carpets are as eagerly sought as they were when ancient Babylon was in its glory . We also quite frequently find some choice speci mens of rugs with turjiyat and roubiyat (poems and a n of fa quot tions) , take from the writings
a as a Ferdouzi and mous Persi n poets, such Sa di,
a H fiz ; also from the Koran . If the possessors Of some of the rare pieces that are sold in this country knew the meaning of the
inscriptions woven in their rugs, the knowledge would add a charm and interest which would make them more valuable than the harmonious c at olors so beautifully blended, which first com
a a pels dmir tion . I will give a few of the bayit (or Persian coup
a and a lets) , with pronunci tion transl tion, taken
from some rugs which I have seen . They will give some idea Of the beauty and flowery sayings
13 O riental Rug Weaving.
of the Persian poets . I must state, however, that it is very difficult to portray the full meaning or interpret the spirit of these poems .
N . o I .
The following inscriptions are from a beautiful Kerman rug that may have adorned the harem of a khan in Persia . d a s. p a i
” r - at og g m ! ! m a! ; a ) A g ab ! )
PRONUNCIATION
be hol d re Chi hosh goft bulbul g e hman.
Ke amm de k r oz m d n hosh é e hosh o a a é t. Karem nooma ravat v é manzaré cheshmumen astane .
Féroudane Khané Khan o é too est t o est.
TRANSLATION How cheerfully and confusedly the nightingale r n a 14 O ie t l Rug Weaving.
a n s ng to the rose, I welcome thee, this bright mor . Be merciful and gaze down from (your) balcony
a art to delight my anxious eyes, for thou lone my comfort and place Of refuge.
NO. II .
This inscription from a magnificent silk rug now graces a charming American home !
(k it/fl ?
W ‘
) V 69 (3; n 4 ? PRONUNCIATION Jibani jaam vé feick may- you saki- i li Khélayik bade noush maj své .
- Kessra Khélas nay yot asla hitch .
- - i a an Azani jaam azani may you saki z . n 5 Oriental Rug Weavi g. 1
TRAN SLATION The world is a cup and destiny the deadly wine
Of the cupbearer . Men drank it in company . o None were ever free fr m this cup, from this wine
Of the cupbearer.
No . III .
This one, which is taken from a most artistic
Kermanshah rug, undoubtedly has graced the palace of some romantic nobleman . It reads thus !
fl i “ a fi Q “if
/fi M waif fe eg
P RONUNCIATION “ ri moobarék b a- d A jahan a .
Sake banoré ba- adé ber afzooze aam , J é mas, batarbe a o ke kearre an b gh , jeh shud béghiamé maa; n 16 O riental Rug Weavi g.
Maa der a iala i a p y y ess ,
ROOhOO a bécheze zeel - lazét yar deda am, y ,
b a maa harishmé vé s rbe abadam ; Chandan bood g ,
a - hadda an hiakhé ha- alvé serroo n ze pay you g , g g j ,
- zam a soonOO roo j é é m a.
TRANSLATION “ May you be fortunate in this world .
0 ! a cup bearer, fill my burning cup with sp rk ling wine, speak to me in mirth, for I do not care h for all the deeds of thi s world . I have seen t e rosy cheek of my love in the cup of the Prophet . Ah ! for this brief joy I still cling to my go blet ;
a m ny have bowed before that stately houri, I like wise bow Wi th respect and Obeisance .
IV. N0 .
In the following inscription the sentiments of some Persian philosopher are voiced . NO doubt
not a a he has enjoyed life fully, and he does c re wh t
a comes afterw rds .
0 . a! 7 O riental Rug Weaving. 1
PRONUN OIATION
Vakh - ke az vaj oodé taneem chee khoon né
toovanét .
TRANSLATION Oh ! after this existence to what sufferings may my soul fall heir .
V. No .
a an n a or Here we h ve inscriptio from Turbeh,
’ mausoleum s piece !
’ t' M y fi)
PRONUNCIATION
Ba dar- sayéyi dat akh - tanish koustar i- yend m farshe bookala oon.
TRAN SLATION Beneath the shadow Of a tree spreads chameleon like delightful parterre .
I NO V . .
To this artist we are indebted for a lecture
un not co seling us to despise any rug. He says ! 18 r enta O i l Rug Weaving .
PRONUN CIATION Jilv é kem khun hayyimehle sanat herr dedé be
' nakshe k lechéi n uk r kusha a oe é .
TRANSLATION However small and insignificant the design of a l rug may be, it neverthe ess calls forth the a f s ttention O a mo t humble artist .
The presence Of Persian characters SUPERSTITION in the design Of a rug would have absolutely no significance to those
t e a not familiar with h language . They appe r to
Of be merely fanciful conceptions the designer. There are also many other suggestions connected with Oriental rugs and their making Of deep sig
nificance . to the Eastern mind For instance, we
Often find a bead woven into a rug . The bead is in put there to guard against the evil eye, belief which is one of the most deep - rooted Of Eastern
a superstitions, and m ny are the attempts to prevent
a a it . To illustrate, an rtist is engaged in we ving
ea n 9 O riental Rug W vi g . 1
a rug and some one who visits him admires his work, but unless he prefaces his praise with the “ ” a a following prayer, M sh Allah, Mash All h, (God be praised, God be praised) , the wearer very quickly sews in a bead to prevent ill luck from a m ttending the completion of the piece, or fro
r going with it after it leaves his o her hands . So far is this superstition carried out that you
’ will see a child in its mother s arms, with a few f a O . be ds or a string garlic around its neck A bird, a horse, and even a house is treated in the same
or manner with white, red, blue green beads and garlic . A verse from the Koran is also considered a very effective charm . We also find a peculiar mark Of one or more
of n tufts wool unclipped o rugs . These adorn ments are supposed to bring good luck and by their a of ttractiveness divert the evil looks the envious . Again you will find the designs of rugs slightly irregular or imperfect . This is not the result Of c e is arelessness or accid nt, but done intentionally by some devout artist . It is thus intended to Show that nothing but
a can All h (God) be perfect . r enta ea n 20 O i l Rug W vi g.
Oriental rugs are divided into six groups — FIRST PERSIAN or IRANIAN . — SECOND TURKISH or ANATOLIAN (Asia
Minor) . — THIRD CAUCASIAN or DAGHESTAN . — FOURTH TURKESTAN or TURCOMAN . — FIFTH AFGHAN or AFGHANISTAN . — I T SI! TH BELOOOH or BELOOCH S AN. Most of the name s given to rugs are either de
v or rived from the pro ince, district, town tribe, in which they are made! But there are also a few names used which are
purely commercial inventions .
FIRST—THE PERSIAN IRANIANS
a a Khor ss n,
r a Ke m n,
a a Kerm nsh h,
Sannah Sinneh or ,
Shiraz,
Mir,
Herez,
Serebend ,
Fera han g , n 21 O riental Rug Weavi g .
c S rap,
Ardabul ,
a a a S v l n,
u L lé ,
a Gor van,
Bijar,
Ispahan,
a H madan,
a Shedd ,
Tabriz,
an Gulist ,
Khaim,
Sarack ,
ohouk- Bo S ulak,
Boulak ,
J osh han g ,
Kurdistan,
- Sinneh Kilim .
SECOND TURKISH ANATOLIANS (Asia Minor)
Ghioerdez or Yeordez,
C a oul ,
La o di , 2 2 r enta ea n O i l Rug W vi g.
Kir- Shehir,
Melez,
Koniah ,
Kissesar ,
a a a C r m n,
Merden,
Mossoul,
a Kurdist n,
- Kiz Kilim, and a the l rger sized carpets are , modern, such as !
a H midie,
ul a G ist n,
Osmanie,
Enelli ,
Demirjik,
a Oush k, r ntal ea n O ie Rug W vi g . 23 THIRD—CAUCASIAN OR DAGHESTAN
a i n C b sta ,
Guenje,
T herchen Chichi or c ,
azak a K j ,
Shirvan,
Derebend ,
Caraba h g ,
Baku,
Kazak,
or Souma Cashmere c.
FOURTH—TURKESTAN OR TURCOMAN
a Bokhar ,
Samarcand .
FIFTH—AFGHAN AFGHANISTAN
a Khiv ,
a Afgh n,
Yamou d,
Beshir.
S ! —BELOOOH BEL HI A I TH OR OOC ST N. n a 24 Orie t l Rug Weaving.
I I PERS AN O R IRAN AN .
a or are a Persi n Iranian rugs Oblong in sh pe, and but very few large sized real antique c arpets
r a e in existence . They are very closely woven and most beautiful in and Old design colorings, red, green, blue, gold
nd a a a ivory white being the gener l colors . E ch
a of these colors has its signific nce . Red de n u old otes life ; white, p rity ; green, immortality ; gold, nobility .
Some of the antique or semi - antique Iranians are a n called pal ce ru ners, and are used in large
a halls in Persi and other Asiatic countries . They
a In 1 v ry s ze from ten to twenty feet in length, and
from five to eight feet in width . The Oblong shape of the rug is due largely to the form of the rooms
in Persian houses, which, like almost every other
a Persian custom, is ccounted for by superstition, it being a belief of the Mahometans that when the devil gets into a square room it is a difficult matter
to out drive him , while in an Oblong room he is m i a a a . a n e sily sc red aw y However, I more
25 O riental Rug Weaving.
clined to believe that the scarcity of long pieces of lumber compels them to build mostly narrow and
oblong shaped rooms . To describe the distinguishing characteristics of the different groupsand to attempt to particularize
a as on of would be vain task, some rugs, account
a their peculiar design and weave, almost defy n positive classification . This is accou ted for in the case of a weaver or group Of weavers migrating
one from province to another, and intermingling
their ideas with the new ones they acquire, thereby producing a work which will have the distinctive characteristic of two or more designs from different
one or provinces combined into rug, in case of the
a at de th Of a weaver, when another artist will tempt to finish his work and introduce entirely
contrasting designs and patterns, not belong
ing to any special group . Of course, in this case it is almost impossible to intelligently
m or classify the g, to positively or cor
rectl y place it in any group . However, the salient points more or less characteristic Of each
a f mily might be interesting .
TO know at a glance the make of each rug is a 2 6 O riental Rug Weaving.
a a n a n s n m tter Of pr ctice, the most ot ble poi t bei g the design, figures, colors, pile, shape, etc .
a f P lm leaf, rosettes, floral, serpentine e fects,
a . are s n in birds, nimals, hunting scenes, etc , ee
Persians . Geometrical designs in the Daghestan family and
a in lmost invariably elongated octagon figures, Bokharas and Afghans of the nomadic tribes of
and a or Soumacs as the Asia, also in C shmeres ,
a T urks c ll them .
Almost all the silk rugs which we SILK RUGS find in the market now are of
an an modern make . Whenever tique one has found its way to this country it has
been quickly secured by connoisseurs . But even the modern ones are very fine examples
of the artistic skill of the Eastern people . The blending Of colors in some of the choice pieces where tones Of turquoise gold and green merge into
one another would defy any artist of the brush . It has been the privilege of the writer to visit some of the turbehs (or mausoleums) Of the E astern
and a a are h n a a in countries, wh t tre sures idde w y Ron ] Si k ran u l I R g.
r enta e n O i l Rug W avi g. 29
these places . Over some of the tombs are rugs that are priceless . Rugs with inscriptions worked in
and precious stones, shawls Of gorgeous hues em
of and In broideries on cloth gold silver. Also the mosques and palaces we find some splendid ex amples of the antique silk rugs . “ a Benjamin, in his book, Persi and the Per ” a si ns, mentions a silk rug which is spread in front Of the celebrated peacock throne in the audience
’ hall of the Shah s palace which is interwoven with f pearls . He says it is the finest specimen o a silk
a rug he has ever seen . These Persi n silk rugs come in every conceivable color from the daintiest
a and shades to the most gorgeously brilli nt ones, the designs are either floral effects or historical subjects, illustrating sacred hunting scenes, etc . ,
such as we see on the very fine Kerman rugs . They are exceedingly closely woven and in size they are
x1 found from small mat sizes up to l 8 4 feet .
“ Which means in Persian east ” KHORASSAN wards is the largest province of
Persia bordering on Afghanistan .
n - a a n i of a sa a and O e third Of the re co s sts lt w ste, 30 r enta ea n O i l Rug W vi g.
a a l rge portion is covered with shifting sands .
!The fertile districts are in the north, where most i of the rugs are woven . Bes des rugs and agricul
a c tur l produ ts, the district is famous for precious
stones, especially turquoise .
was The capital Of the province, Meshed, the
- birthplace Of the famous tent maker poet, Omar
a a Khayy m, with whose be utiful verses we are so hi familiar . And s tomb is still in existence in
Naisha ur n p , another town of the provi ce, where .
he was buried in the eleventh century . From Khorassan we get some of the finest specimens Of
the antique rugs Of Persia . They come in medium
and large Oblong pieces, with thick pile very silky
and pliable . Large rosette in the centre and a palm leaf in each corner inside the borders are the
distinguishing characteristics of most Khorassans . They also come in small figures with exquisite nar row borders, sometimes with as many as eight or
are ten borders on a piece . The colors red, Old
rose, blue and pale green . The modern carpet size Khorassans are not found in the beautiful soft
of a are colors the ntique ones, but they Of just as
n x r and n u t a r ars of s rvice fi e te tu e, o do b fte ye e
Silk Rug with Symbolic“ Representations.
n 33 O riental Rug Weavi g. they will mellow down and appeal to artistic ad
miration. One Of the eastern provinces Of Per
Si a of a KERMAN , lying south Khor ssan, and on the north surrounded by a large
a salt desert . The chief town, Kerman, is situ ted
ha in the mountain range, and s a population Of
The antique rugs made in this province are mar
are velons works Of art . The prevailing designs a sort of floral medallion in the centre, surrounded by mythological subjects, such as birds, animals,
. and hunting scenes, etc , which reveal the deeds
a p st history Of the rulers Of the East .
The colors are very delicate, the texture exceed in l g y closely woven and rather thin . They come in medium and large sizes, and connoisseurs and
as lovers Of fine pieces are keen to procure them, they are considered the gems of Persian looms .
Next to Kerman in quality we have
SI E Sinnehs NN H , the name Of which is de
of Sauna rived from the town , sur
in rounded with beautiful gardens, the province of a - Ad emi or F r Ir k j ( a Persia) . 4 r enta 3 O i l Rug Weaving.
Sinnehs are u d closely woven, Of light text re, an rarely come larger than six to seven feet by three
and a half to four feet .
a and are D rk rich reds, blues, ivory yellows the
principal colors . The designs are in small figure or diamond
O f shaped medallions f dif erent colors . They have
from one to four beautiful borders . There is a square shaped Sinneh made exclu
~ sivel for the high dignitaries to use as saddle y m covers, the centre is so etimes of solid color, with f ef ective designs in the corners . It has a small opening at one side to fit on the
saddle . These rugs are usually trimmed with very elabo
rate fringe .
a There is also sort Of Kilim, called Sinneh
i a . Kil m, m de in the same province This is worked
with a needle, and both sides are alike, having no
naps . In size they do not exceed Sinneh rugs .
are a r a for a and They very pprop i te t ble, couch
a r pi no cove s . An que Kerman Ru Hu n ti g. nti g Scene.
38 r en O i tal Rug Weaving . noted as the art- mart Of Persi a for marvelous in
a a Of . And one l id rticles glass, wood and metal can still find there the most dazzling embroideries,
of and a a cups silver gold inl id with superb en mels, boxes carved and painted with scenes of Persian life or inlaid with delicate ivory patterns, vel
a vets m ssive with silver and gold thread, antique
a or a gems engr ved with verses from Hafiz Khayy m, “ ” a s re et metali ues plaques Of c she ware, fl g , five
a hundred to thousand years Old, illuminated manuscripts with quaint and characteristic de
and signs, diamonds, rubies, pearls turquoise, for
a as which Persi is famous, as well rugs whose ex quisite designs symbolized the poetical and flowery imagination Of the Orientals . Amid such sur
a roundings lived the noted Persian poets, Sa di and
are n of Hafiz . They both buried in the vici ity
“ Ma od rest in this arden s ot y my b y g p , Where the nightingale pip es its love song to the ”
Rose.
The rugs from this district are of a softer tex
ur and s an an r t e, more ilky lustre th y of the othe m h Arms and Ar o r S Op .
o a n ue S nne R y l A tiq i h Rug. n u S nne e resen n a o a onference. A tiq e i h. R p ti g R y l C
44 r enta O i l Rug Weaving. ley and this beautiful river twining itself into a sort
a Of loop, that on their return to their native land it is the impression Of this view which they weave into the shawl and rugs that we call the palm leaf o r locust design . I have no hesitancy in stating that the pear shaped design which we find in a great many Per
as on of sian rugs, well as some the Turkish Ones, must have been derived from Cashmere . Some very Old bits of Cashmere fabric with this pattern
r a e seen in the museums of the great capital, and having no proof positive to show that rugs with this design antedate the palm leaf seen in shawls it is reasonable to infer that the pattern originated in Cashmere.
The capital of the province of Irak HAMADAN Adj emi is situated at the northern
of 1 60 base Mount Elvend, miles
' a e west by southwest Of Teheian . It cont ins som
The inhabi notable tombs . city with its
a a a a tants has a large tr ffic with Teher n, Isp h n,
Ba a . gd d, etc Hamadan rugs come in both small and large
R are n ue ispa an Ru e resen n A tiq h g, R p ti g a Royal Pageant. An ue erman e resen n Ro a Gard tiq K . R p ti g y l en.
49 Ori ental Rug Weaving .
z . a si es They are mostly modern, having great
’ deal Of camel s hair in them . The predominating design is a medallion on a
n of or a solid color backgrou d ivory, red, blue terr
V f ar Oh cotta . ery few o the antique pieces e
tainable.
Or Haybaliks come mostly from
S E B GS a a are ADDL A Persi , lthough there some
made in other Asiatic countries .
a They alw ys come in pairs, and in the East they answer a great many more purposes than our
a trunks and handbags do here . Their princip l f use, however, is for carrying personal ef ects, pro
. as are visions, etc , well as children . They thrown
f a r o o o . ver the backs horses, c mels, donkeys
In this country the use is very different . As
or the shape is mostly square oblong, they can be
or turned into a beautiful ottoman cushion cover,
’ ’ and in smoking rooms, artist s studios or bachelors apartments they make a useful as well as artistic
for a r n . eceptacle papers, mag zi es, etc 50 r n O ie tal Rug Weaving .
Rugs Of this make have had great popularity lately on account GORAVANS of n a a their bold desig s, ttr ctive
and colors size .
and a r r and They come in soft d rk blues, ich eds
a yellows, with medallion in centre, l rge panels in
or a corners, either in red blue, with flor l or geo
f . metrical ef ects They usually have three borders, one a wide and two narrow ones, consisting Of flor l scrolls on écru or ivory background . Sometimes large Goravans have Persi an inscriptions all around the border. ‘ 6x4 26x18 They come from up to feet.
As most Of the modern carpets are made to order from designs and
patterns supplied by well- known importing houses Of both this country and
to intelli Europe, it will be impossible give an
n of or t gent descriptio either colors, designs tex ure ; as each l arge importing establishment is constantly supplying different designs to suit requirements
d a a . an t stes of their p trons I would, however, state that most of the new large carpets come with
n ue erman , ep resen n Tree of f A tiq K R ti g Li e and the C onfli ct Between Ev and Good il . i u nn R Ant q e Si eh ug.
5 O riental Rug Weaving. 5
av a and r very he y pile, loose we ve ve y vivid colors, and as to durability some Of them will compare very
a favorable with the antique m kes .
f rms Persian C oat o A .
As the American people at l arge are not very
a h of a a f miliar wit the beautiful emblem Persi ,
brief description will, no doubt, be interesting . “ ” The arms of Persia consist Of a lion holding an open yataghan uplifted in its right paw and the
rising sun dominating from its back . Persians from their earliest history have been fire and sun
O worshipers . S the sun had been their insignia for generations before they adopted the faith of
a M homet. The lion was added about eight cen r n n 56 O ie tal Rug Weavi g . turies Of ago, it being the emblem one Of the nomadic tribes whom the Persians had conquered .
The double - edged sword signifies the absolute power Of the Persian rulers .
Of on This emblem is used as a coat arms, the coins and decorations, as well as on the flag . The flag colors are yellow gold on green back ground . n u A tiq e Kerman Rug.
60 r en a ea n O i t l Rug W vi g. ten years up are e mployed in weaving the best
f k are Silk rugs o Tur ish make . The colors ex ceedingly Soft and the designs mostly floral or fl temple e ects. In texture they are almost as fine as Persian
ru e . s gs, b ing very closely woven The average ize
6x3. 6 . is 5. feet
“ Y or ez of Or e d . Antique rugs GHIOERDEZ this make are almost unob
’ tainable The average size is
6x4 ' about 6. feet They have short nap and are i without sheen, but the color ngs are exquisite
s a . oft blues, green and terr cottas
of o d The centre is solid color, surr unde by a “ ” or mihrab entrance to a temple design, with two columns on either side and a lamp or fl oria
T one tion suspended In the centre . hey have
and w wide several narro borders, consisting Of floral or conventional designs on ivory ground in
of e and shades chrome, pigeon blood, soft blu green. n ue na o an Ghi z A tiq A t li oerde .
63 O riental Rug Weaving.
The rugs bearing the name of this OOULA town are altogether different from the
h not ver close G ioerdez rugs . They are y
l and . y woven, have rather long pile The size is
‘ x centre de from medium to about 8 4 feet . The s n or of ff ig is either floral a fish scale e ect, and the border usually consists of four or five uni
in form stripes broken by small rosettes, green,
and on of . Old gold pale blue, a groundwork ivory
A small village near Konieh, now in
LAD n of IO rui s, having a population about five
hundred people . Almost all the
Ladic r are a ugs ntique, very few modern ones being made .
and a They come in small door mats, lso in
a l rger Oblong pieces . They are easily distin guished on account of the bold designs and con trastin are g colors, which usually very rich red, old gold, maroon, pale blues and green . In tex
u n r t re a d pile they a e Similar to Coulas .
This is another town whose products
MELE are a Z getting sc rce. The rugs made here
a a come in lmost square sh pe, the usual s e is 5x iz 4 feet . The texture is also softer and r e t a n 64 O i n al Rug We vi g.
lighter than the average Anatolian rugs . The
patterns in this make are varied . We sometimes
find floral designs, and again Mihrab or lozenge
Of effects, in shades red, soft yellow, ivory and
soft blue .
Kilim is a sort Of tapestry of the , ! I IM . K L Orient Both sides are nearly alike,
having no nap . They come in almost every color and design, and are made altogether by women and girls . The familiar term Kiz “ “ ” Kilim means girl rug or bride rug, and is made by young marriageable girls, ranging in age from twelve to fourteen years, to present as a
and betrothal gift to their future lords masters, in order to Show their handicraft .
Of Some these conceptions are really beautiful, embodying as they do all the romance and poetical
’ feelings that fills the artist s mind . There is an other reason why a great deal Of care and pains
u taking is lavished O the making of these rugs . This is that the bride may be considered highly accomplished, because it is by the daintiness of the work that she puts on these rugs that she is judged he s s Pla e rs in a af n l i C y C e i A ban a.
n 67 O riental Rug Weavi g.
- to a great extent . The Kiz Kilim with Mihrab or temple design are usually made by Mahometan girls and are used only as a prayer rug . In this d h country we fin them used for portieres, couc
r h covers, table scarfs and an endless va iety Of ot er
of n uses, where a touch Orientalism is to be give to a room.
all is The work is done by needle, and in open work effect . In size they come from small mats up to 1 6x8 feet .
These rugs are from a small village BERGAMAS situ ated on the Baker Chai (Copper
of i 42 River) in the province A din, miles northeast of Smyrna . In early times this
a place was famous for its pal ces, tombs and
. w in mosques But the to n is ruins now, having
nl o y a population of people . The rugs that we get from this village will always be cherished
a by am teurs, on account Of their exquisite soft flf colorings and subdued e ect. They come with
n a a n in a conve tion l med llion desig the centre, nd 68 r enta ea n O i l Rug W vi g. an a e d of extr wid bor er ivory, yellow and soft
a blues. They are ne rly always Of a square shape.
All the large carpets of Turkish
TU IS RK H make are modern, most Of them are
PETS CAR manufactured near Smyrna . The
pile is heavy and the colorings vivid .
al l s l 0x 7 22x 1 They come in size from up to 7 feet. These carpet s are usually made from designs and patterns submitted by the buyers from this coun nd m try a the European arkets .
Most Of the rugs from this district M OSSOUL are made by the nomadic tribes along the Tigris River in Asiatic
Turkey. The texture is thick and rather coarse, but they soon acquire a very rich sheen, and they are positively the best rugs on the market for
. t hard service . The colorings are varied but sof
and and mellow, the design is either medallion or small figures . The material used is mostly
’ camel s hair. The usual size is seven foot six by
and a so n r a for three foot six, l lo g st ipes suit ble
a h lls. A Cafe in amas D cus.
7 1 O riental Rug Weaving.
Turk s oa of m i h C t Ar s.
Having had numerous Inqui ri es in regard to the significance Of the hieroglyphic seen so much on a the Turkish goods, which is called tughr (or
a of as Turkish co t arms) , I will give here brief an a a a expl n tion s possible .
a If you closely ex mine this cipher, you will see that it has the shape of a hand . This hand
murath son is i of a I. or A the mprint Mur d , , Of 72 r en a O i t l Rug Weaving.
a 1 31 9 27th 1 389 Orkh n, born , killed August , , and it originated thus !
of in The City Ragusa, , Dalmatia, on the
Adriatic Sea, wanted to build a church, and in
- those days, as well as to day, no public buildings or churches were all owed to be built unless sanc tioned r by the Sultan . An i adé (or permit) being necessary, the required document was pre sented to Murad I . for his signature .
I s Murad . , not having a schola tic education, simply wet the palm and fingers of his hand and pressed it on the document . The three fingers were held close together, the small finger and im thumb were apart . Within the form thus
nishan i- of pressed the j bashi (or head the scribes) , wrote the names of Murad and his father, the “ ” title of Khan and the victor ever . For cen turies or the form of the tughra, toghra, remained
of the same, except the part the characters, which varied with every succeeding Sultan . The tughra of to - day contains the following Arabic inscription ! “ - ul - Sultan Abd Hamid Khan, ben Medjid El ” Muzafar daima, which translated means Sultan ” - u i . Abd l Ham d Khan, son of Medjid, victor ever
r enta Ru e n O i l g W avi g .
C UC SI D GHE A A AN O R A STAN .
W a hich means mountain land, is
AG EST of D H AN government Russia . It is a triangular territory of Cis
a a a a G C uc si , bordered by the Cauc sus and the as pian Sea. The population is over which
a a n of is m de up from umber tribes . The Les
hians are o g , who c nsidered the finest specimens
a are Of the C ucasian types, the principal weavers .
u are of a Daghestan r gs very soft silky texture, the colors are light blue, red, ivory and yellow .
a are a Perfect ntique pieces very much dmired.
un a as 8x5 In size they r s large feet .
This is a small town in the province
GUENJ A of Daghestan . The rugs woven here
a are rather coarse, h ve heavy pile,
a a and come in geometric l designs . Size bout
6x3 6 . . feet
! ar r and . Colors d k blues, reds, ch ome yellow S ree Scene in a t t C iro.
8 r enta 7 O i l Rug Weaving.
da ! a a a 9 five a t A. M n n 5 P times y d ybre k, oo , .M .
nd M o a 8 P . h . At these hours the muezzins fr m t e
a of the a b lconies min rets issue the call to prayer.
he Immediately every faithful believer, wherever
ma y chance to be, after taking his ablution, spreads his Namazi rug with Mihrab design pointing to
a a a o w rds Mecc , the holy Mahomet n city, and pr s
a a a and a tr tes himself in pr yer, his forehe d h nds resting on certain designs on the rugs .
a few at a The pr yer lasts but a minutes time,
Bu being usually some verses from the Koran . t during that time there is nothing that will inter
r m i fere o detract his attention fro his worsh p .
Rugs are made in the black wine
OARARAGH district Of Daghestan . They come
in geometrical and prayer patterns, and sometimes we find one with a peculiar design
i I at one end representing two hands . Th s s sug gestive that the hands be placed there while
a Caraba hs t praying . The ntique g have very sof
are n be colors, but there not ma y Of them to
f on a are found . Most o the pieces the m rket now
ra . new wi and a e no b nd , th very vivid colors h v Tai-Maha at ra Ind a l Ag . i .
A Famous Mauso eu ’ l m ed cated to the Memor of a Ma ara a D i y h j h s Wife.
n a 82 Orie t l Rug Weaving .
RKE TAN R T RC A TU S O U O M N.
of in Is a province Russia, situated BOKHARA a plain a few miles from Zaraf
in Shan, the midst Of beautiful
and an gardens, surrounded by embattled wall
- twenty four feet high . The town is celebrated for its numerous mosques and all a s colleges, which attract students from p rt of Asia . Another striking feature is its numerous
a h fil s baz ars, whic are led with the richest ware
o r of . a e s the East The principal pr ductions silk ,
and . woolens, rugs arms The rugs that come from this province are
unfor justly admired by American people, but tunately the real antique ones are almost out Of
Bokharas the market . These antique are wrongly “ ” Bokharas e on n called royal , I presum , accou t of their rich wine color with a touch of velvet .
!The designs are a sort of octagon lozenge figure all a a n Of r n over the rug, with f int outli ing g ee ,
old i or and a ue. gold, v y d rk bl i o s e orner A B t o f C y C °
r enta ea n O i l Rug W vi g . 85
l ox e They rarely come larger than 7 feet . Ther is another design sometimes found in the small
ha . size Bok ras. It is a sort Of prayer pattern The whole ensemble Of this rug is a rich maroon
Of with a touch dark blue and ivory, and the pile
is much thicker than the average Bokhara. This prayer design is usually found in size not ex
5x4 e ceeding fe t .
A city Of Western Turkestan in
AMAR A a Z - a S K ND the v lley Of araf Shan, mong
- the Tian Shan mountains . It has two magnificent mosques dating from the seven
teenth a Ul - century, lso the ug beg college, and the
Ara tomb of Timar and his wives . From the
bes ue a difl erent q decor tions, marble pavements,
colored tiles, and the inscriptions Of gold in these
a structures, which are still in lmost perfect condi
one can o of tion, f rm some idea Of the grandeur the place when it was in its full glory under the “ ” rul e of Timar. The Samarkand (sometimes wrongly called Malgara) rugs are of an exceedingly soft and
n a l loose texture . They e rly a l have a beautiful 86 Oriental Rug Weaving. silky The principal pattern is Of one or more circles or moon shaped designs in the centre of r and the piece . Soft yellow, g een, orange, red violet are the principal colors . Antique pieces are exceedingly difficult to find and do not come
a r an 1 0x6 l rge th feet .
88 r enta O i l Rug Weaving.
BELO O C H O R BELO O C HISTAN
Of on the A country Southern Asia, bounded n on on orth by Afghanistan, the east by Sind,
on the south by the Arabian Sea, and the west by the Persian province Of Kerman .
two t Brahmis and he It has distinc races, the t
Beluchis .
The former are very hospitable and generous,
a a n - a the l tter greedy, hu gry, cut thro t people, mostly nomadic .
a and The capit l, about the only town Of the whole province, is Kelat, with population .
The whole country is under British protection . Beluch or Beloochistan rugs are much in de mand on account Of their beautiful sheen and
are silky effect . They sometimes (wrongly) “ ” a Bokharas on c lled blue , I presume account of being found in similar design and having a bluish shade on the surface . are a a n The colors d rk m roon, brow , pink, ivory
90 r enta Ru O i l g Weaving.
A D RU G B WO R TO UYERS.
The rug buyers of this country have but a very faint idea of the enormous amount Of labor and! expenditure it requires to bring these rugs into
an and an a Americ Europe m rkets . They are generally collected from house to
in a t r r and a u house the vill ges Of the in e io , m de p into caravans before they start on t heir long jour ne a a hi a or a y, either for Isp h n, S r z, Tabriz Teher n, where they lie for several months and sometimes for a a a a Tiflis ye rs, before fresh st rt is m de for ,
a or a Trebizond and Smyrn Const ntinople . In these marts each grade is assorted and piled into lots and made ready for shipment to foreign mar
The a a for all kets . l rgest m rket kinds of rugs is
iflis n a . tT a d Const ntinople From Smyrna they ship mostly the large sized modern carpets made
n a n i the interior Of Asi Mi or.
a an are an an The princip l merch ts Persi s, Russi s,
Armenians and Turks. No goods are sold direct 9 Oriental Rug Weaving . 1 to a buyer unless he is accompanied by a rug
r who a ff b oker, t kes his customer to visit the di erent
f and khans (or depots) , where the goods, O fice also the residence of most of the Persian merchants are located . The rooms in these khans are not very inviting places.
a ni e n of a di an or. The princip l fur tur co sists v , perhaps a couple of low chairs for the foreign
a a an i visitors . Before tr ns cting y bus ness your
a a a f and a are he lth is sked fter, cof ee cig rettes s a a a é o erved, and if you take fancy to n rghil ( r.
a are in w ter pipe) , why, Of course, you politely vited a to join in with the rest . These merch nts,
of are a most them without any education, bout the shrewdest and most cunning lot Of men I have ever come across .
a u and ar are Gener lly r gs c pets sold by the lot,
a is as bad indiffer th t to say they run, good, and
. are a and lent They then made up in b les shipped, m Of via or ost the time, either London Liverpool, t n a to Y B n he ce for tr nshipment New ork, osto
‘ Or h a r P il delphia. The Tu kish Government levies one er ent. of rt and t e i t p c expo duty, h h gh du y n 92 Oriental Rug Weavi g.
a hi nm of a hi ch rged by t s gover ent l te, w ch is forty
ad valorem s e per cent . and ten cent per squar
on n foot every Oriental rug, has added more tha
fifty per cent . to their original value The de mand for Oriental rugs and carpets has increased to such an alarming extent that in a very short time it will be almost impossible to obtain a really antique piece at what we would consider a reason
’ hi a o W able price . The C c g orld s Fair has ac complished a great educational work towards pro moting and creating a° constant demand for these i beaut ful floor coverings . Most of the modern
are houses finished with hard wood polished floors,
n of i o with the sole i tention cleanl ness, als to
of and minimize the work house cleaning, they naturally necessitate some sort of m g instead Of
covering the floor completely with carpets . It is gratifying to state that it did not take long for the American people at large to find out the unsur passed merit and durability combined with the
a of e be uty thes Eastern works of art . People who are not familiar with the different qualities Of Oriental rugs will do well to patronize
some oo re i e ouse i whos a g d l abl h , n e fair de lings
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