BESHIR
Why So Named.—After the words "Bech Schehr," meaning "Five Villages," being woven in five adjoining villages west of Khiva on the shores of the Amour Daria River in Turkestan.
Knot.—Either the Senna or the Ghiordes, usually the former. Number vertically five to ten; number horizontally six to twelve; number to the square inch thirty to one hundred twenty.
Warp.—Wool or goat's hair.
Woof.—Wool or goat's hair.
Nap.—Wool.
Borders.—Few stripes and narrow in proportion to the size of the rug. The designs are usually Tekke in character. The reciprocal saw teeth design is a feature.
Ends.—A fairly wide web which is usually dyed red through which generally pass blue stripes or strands of colored yarn. Knotted or loose warp ends.
Sides.—A three or four corded selvage.
BESHIR BOKHARA RUG
PROPERTY OF MR. L. A. SHORTELL, BOSTON, MASS.
Prevailing Colors.—The free use of yellow is characteristic. Browns, brownish reds and blue with very little white, as a rule.
Designs.—Those of the border are Tekke in character while those of the field are usually composed of tree motifs arranged in strips with alternating colored background. Caucasian and Mongol designs are commonly employed. Occasionally the field is filled with Chinese cloud bands.
Sizes.—From three to eight feet in width by five to twelve feet in length.
Prices.—From $1.75 to $5.00 a square foot.
Remarks.—One of the rarest of the Turkoman products. Most of those brought to this country are antiques.
THE EXAMPLE ILLUSTRATED
Owner's Description.—This rug differs from the Bokhara commonly seen, as it has the Tree of Life pattern drawn in the conventional form of the Bokhara weavers, but very artistically done, the wool used being the very best, very silky, and the selvage is finished in a very workmanlike manner. It was a skilful weaver who made this rug and it probably was his masterpiece. See also color plate at page [274].