DERBEND
Synonym.—Derbent.
Why So Named.—Derbend, meaning "a fortified gate," is the name of the chief city and capital of the province of Daghestan, in the neighborhood of which these rugs are made by the Tartars and Turkomans.
Knot.—Ghiordes. Number vertically eight to twelve; number horizontally five to ten; number to square inch forty to one hundred twenty.
Warp.—Brown wool or goats' hair.
Woof.—Good wool. Usually more than two woof threads between each row of knots.
Nap.—Good, soft, thick, long, lustrous wool.
Weave.—Very good, but not as close as that of the Daghestans.
Sides.—Generally overcast. Occasionally selvaged.
Ends.—Like the Daghestans, a short web with knotted fringe at each end. Sometimes the web is wide as in the Turkoman products.
Border.—From two to four border stripes, carrying large geometrical patterns separated by narrow stripes of plain color.
Prevailing Colors.—Fewer colors than the Daghestans. Usually a field of blue or red. Yellow is lavishly employed.
Dyes.—Generally good.
Designs.—Similar to those of the Daghestans and Kabistans, but of a coarser nature and purely geometric, the latch hook and the eight-pointed star devices being the most common. The field usually consists of a repetition of the designs in alternate colors.
Prices.—From $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot.
Remarks.—Rather rare. Of little artistic value.