KONIEH
Synonym.—Koniah.
Why So Named.—After the city of Konieh (the ancient Iconium), capital of the province of the same name, where rug weaving is an important industry.
Knot.—Ghiordes. Number vertically eight to twelve; number horizontally seven to ten; number to square inch fifty-six to one hundred twenty.
Warp.—Fine wool in the antiques; coarse wool in the moderns; frequently dyed.
Woof.—Fine wool in the antiques; coarse wool in the moderns.
Nap.—Fine selected wool of medium length.
Weave.—Antiques evenly and tightly woven; moderns loose and irregular in weave.
Sides.—Antiques usually selvaged, moderns usually overcast.
Ends.—Web and selvage, sometimes fringe of loose warp ends.
Border.—As a rule there are from three to four border stripes, one wide one and two or three narrow ones.
Prevailing Colors.—Antiques have soft shades of blue, red, and yellow. No rule in the moderns. Often there are two colors in one yarn.
Dyes.—Splendid in the antiques. Some of the modern ones are aniline dyed.
Designs.—Rather crude. Generally plain centre. Prayer design common.
Sizes.—Three to five by four to seven. Also mats.
Prices.—Antiques rare; from $2.00 to $10.00 per square foot. Moderns from $1.00 to $2.25 per square foot.
Remarks.—The modern pieces are large and thick. They resemble the Oushak carpets. Some of them are of sterling texture and good color and design, while others are very coarse and cheap in every way.
THE EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATED
Maj. L. B. Lawton's Description.—A most unique and rare specimen of an obscure Anatolian weave. Good Koniehs are quite as scarce as good Kulahs or Ghiordes, are less known and have therefore less demand. The right and left Rhodian lilies are green, the centre one is azure—all on rose pink. The space above shades from Nile green to sea green. Main border is golden buff. This old rug is as thick as a Kazak. For softness of tone it rivals the most delicate silk rug.
Mercer Rug (page [138]).—This is a rug of considerable age, and a very fine specimen of its kind. The center is in soft tints of undyed wool, while the peacock blues of the field above the niche are almost metallic in their brilliancy and lustre. The delicate form of the Rhodian lily is used with much nicety of feeling throughout the border and to break the mass of the centre. (Owner's description.)
MADEN PRAYER RUG
Size 4'5" × 3'3"
PROPERTY OF DR. E. B. GUILE, UTICA, N. Y.