SHIRVAN
Why So Named.—After the district of Shirvan, south of Daghestan and extending from the Caspian Sea to the river Kur. Marketed at Baku, the trade centre of the district.
By Whom Made.—Woven by the Lesgie tribes.
Knot.—Ghiordes. Number vertically six to twelve; number horizontally five to nine; number to square inch thirty to one hundred eight.
Warp.—Generally white or gray wool or a mixture of the two in the antiques, while the moderns are of brown or white wool or a mixture of the two. Sometimes the warp is of cotton or goats' hair.
Woof.—Usually wool in the antiques. In modern pieces, usually of wool, occasionally of cotton and sometimes cotton and wool strands will be twisted together in such a manner as to cause more or less puckering of the fabric, especially after same has been wet.
Nap.—Wool, cut short.
Weave.—Cheaply and roughly woven.
Sides.—Overcast or selvaged.
Ends.—Usually both ends are finished alike with a short web and an extra large fringe of loose or knotted warp threads.
Border.—Three to five border stripes, generally four, one wide one and several narrow ones. As a rule they carry small designs either of a Caucasian or Persian character. The latch hook, the tarantula, the scorpion, and the wine glass designs are common.
Prevailing Colors.—Quiet tints of red, blue, yellow, and salmon, with considerable white.
Dyes.—Moderns very apt to be chemical.
Designs.—Quite similar to those of the Daghestan and Kabistan, but more inclined to imitate the Persian designs without the connecting vine or meander effect and inclined to be rather large in proportion to the size of the rug. The tarantula, the swastika, the link, the S form, and the palace patterns are commonly employed.
SHIRVAN RUG
Size 5'6" × 3'6"
PROPERTY OF DR. E. B. GUILE, UTICA, N. Y.
Sizes.—From three to five by four to seven feet. No carpet sizes.
Prices.—Among the cheapest of the Caucasian products. From $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot.
Remarks.—Moderns made only to sell.
THE EXAMPLES ILLUSTRATED
COLOR PLATES
with accompanying description at pages 158 and 250.
DOUBLETONE
Owner's Description.—Unusually fine for Shirvan. This rug is in the century class. The three borders are not often seen, but are characteristic of the older rugs of the Daghestan district. The glory of this rug is in the marvelous centre. At first sight one might think of the famous "rose" Kirmans. The treatment of the roses, lilies, peonies, etc., merit more than a passing glance. No weaver could possibly show greater fidelity to nature in the shading of leaf and petal than did the now forgotten factor of this unusual rug. The erosion of time has given the surface an appearance of brocade velvet. Casual examination would indicate a green background, but in reality it is black, the profusion of green being an intricate and realistic arrangement of leaves.