Nap.—Usually even, short cut, silky wool.
Sides.—Overcast, usually with a dark red wool.
Ends.—One end usually has a narrow web and short fringe of loose warp threads, while the other is generally a narrow web which is frequently turned over and hemmed. Frequently several strands of colored wool run through the web, as in the Kurdish productions.
Border.—Usually from four to twelve border stripes, the principal one of which is from three to four inches wide with an ivory white background and a vine design running through it, at each turn of which is a leaf similar in shape to that in the Herati pattern. The vine design is nearly always present and characterizes the Saraband border from all others. The smaller border stripes are generally filled by various well-known designs, such as the reciprocal trefoil, the barber-pole stripe, the Greek meander, etc.
Prevailing Colors.—The field is generally of a dark blue or a rich red. In antiques it is often of a pink or rose shade. The main border stripe is frequently of old ivory or red, while the other border stripes vary, most of them as a rule being the same color as that which predominates in the field.
SARABAND RUG
Size 3' 4" × 5'
PROPERTY OF MRS. THOMAS E. MATTHEWS, MT. CLEMENS, MICH.
Dyes.—As a rule are excellent. In the modern products some of these colors are liable to be aniline, especially the greens.
Designs.—The field is almost invariably covered with the pear design arranged in rows, the stems of each successive row running in the opposite direction. This is nearly always the case and with the exception of the Shiraz it seems to distinguish the field from that of other rugs such as the Khorasan products, where the same design is frequently used but where the stems usually run in the same direction. The Mir Saraband sometimes has a Herati centre.