SAMARKAND
Synonym.—The trade name of "Malgaran" is given to an inferior grade.
Why So Named.—After the city of Samarkand, a city of Western Turkestan in the valley of Zarab-Shan, one hundred miles east of Bokhara, which was once the centre of learning in Asia, having had several universities there.
Where Made.—In the vicinity of Samarkand.
Knot.—Nearly always the Senna, seldom the Ghiordes. Number vertically five to seven; number horizontally six to ten; number to square inch thirty to seventy.
Warp.—Wool, cotton or silk, usually dyed blue or yellow.
Woof.—In the antiques cotton or wool. In the moderns cotton. Like the Kazaks there are three or four woof threads between each row of knots.
Nap.—Good, heavy, loose, lustrous wool. Sometimes silk or a mixture of silk and wool.
Weave.—Loosely woven.
Sides.—Antiques have a narrow selvage added sometimes with two colors like the Yomuds. Modern pieces are overcast.
Ends.—Similar to those of the Turkoman products. Wide web with fringe of loose or twisted warp threads.
Border.—From three to five border stripes, usually three. The inner border usually carries the Greek meander, the outer one floral designs and the middle one figures corresponding to the central designs. The undulating vine and lotus pattern are frequently used.
Prevailing Colors.—Field usually blue, red, or golden brown. Bokhara reds and yellows are lavishly used.
SAMARKAND RUG
PROPERTY OF MR. A. U. DILLEY
Dyes.—Of the best.
Designs.—There are usually five medallions (circles of happiness), one at each corner of the field and one in the centre bearing some dragons, animal, or floral forms. Very little trace of Persian, Turkish, or Caucasian influence; Mongolian characteristics predominate with some trace of Turkoman. Chinese fret, swastika, dragon, fish, and floral forms.
Sizes.—From three to nine by nine to fifteen feet.
Prices.—Antiques rare and costly, moderns from $1.00 to $2.50 per square foot.
Remarks.—The moderns are much inferior to the antiques. They are suitable for library and hall use.
THE EXAMPLE ILLUSTRATED
Although made in Russian Turkestan, Samarkand weavings are Chinese in every respect.
This particular piece displays three round medallions or circles of happiness, also butterflies and various Chinese plant forms. The first and third border stripes are composed of one of the Chinese lotus bud border designs, while the central stripe consists of the swastika fret.
DAGHESTAN PRAYER RUG
Size, 4'8" × 4'2".
BY COURTESY OF NAHIGIAN BROS., CHICAGO, ILL.
Owners' Description.—In all the rugs that we have imported from the Caucasian provinces we do not recollect having seen one with a finer texture than this Daghestan. It has as many knots to the square inch as the finest Kashan rugs, which, as is well understood, are the finest products of the Persian looms.
The "barber pole" stripes in the border, the reciprocal Van Dyke design, and the "wine glass" figure in the widest border are all characteristic designs found in Caucasian rugs. Even the niche is similar to other Daghestan prayer rugs. But we see at once Persian influences in the field of the rug.
The "flame" design as it is called here, which is in reality a variation of the familiar "river loop" or "El-Ayassi" pattern, and which is distinctly a Persian figure, is here used throughout the field. As if to emphasize the theory that the flame, which the early Persians worshipped, is represented by this design, each individual figure is made to give off rays of light and warmth.
Another interesting and noticeable feature in this rug is that while in Persian fabrics like the Sereband, where this or a very similar design is used, the figures are almost all exactly alike, whereas here they differ considerably and no two are alike in detail.
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