GENGHIS
Synonyms.—Guenja, Guendja, Guenges, Turkman.
Why So Named.—Authorities differ greatly as to the origin of the name. Some say that the proper name should be Guenja, which was the ancient name of Elizabethpol, from whence they came. Others insist they should be called Genghis, which is the name of the tribe of Nomads living in the vicinity of Elizabethpol who weave them.
Knot.—Ghiordes. Number vertically six to ten; number horizontally five to eight; number to square inch thirty to eighty.
Warp.—A three-strand thread of brown wool or goats' hair.
Woof.—Gray or brown wool, frequently dyed. Generally several woof threads between each row of knots.
Nap.—Usually rather long wool or goats' hair. Of a much finer quality in the antiques.
Weave.—As a rule coarsely woven.
Sides.—Selvaged or overcast, with different colored wool, most frequently the former.
Ends.—Web with small knotted fringe on one or both ends. Sometimes the web is wide as in the Turkoman rugs.
Border.—From two to five border stripes, most frequently three, one wide one with a narrow one on each side, all carrying geometrical designs.
Prevailing Colors.—Similar to those of the Kazaks. Usually considerable white with rather bright red, light and dark blue.
GENGHIS RUNNER
Size 8'9" × 2'8"
PROPERTY OF THE AUTHOR
Dyes.—Apt to be inferior.
Designs.—Similar to those of the Kazaks and Karabaghs. Geometrical as a rule, sometimes flowers and vines. The pear is frequently employed, usually in alternate rows of red and blue. Birds and animals.
Sizes.—Seldom square, mostly runners three to five by four to nineteen feet.
Prices.—The lowest priced Caucasian rug as a rule. From $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot.
Remarks.—Durable. Often sold as Karabaghs.
THE EXAMPLE ILLUSTRATED
Knot: Ghiordes. Nine to the inch vertically and seven horizontally, making sixty-three to the square inch.
This is a very old piece. Note that the outer border appears in the ends and is lacking on the sides, having been cut off on account of its worn-out condition.
The field is covered with the pear design in alternating rows of light and dark colors upon a rich red ground. The inner border carries the Greek meander in red and white upon a blue ground, while the main stripe is filled with the octagon and the eight-pointed star of the Medes in different colors upon a white ground. The third border, which remains on the ends only, carries the Greek meander in blue and white upon a red ground. Both warp and woof are of wool.