Border.—From two to nine border stripes, usually from three to four, one wide one with one or two narrow ones on each side. The main border stripe usually carries designs in profile.
Prevailing Colors.—Usually dark rich reds, greens, blues, yellows, pinks, and terra cotta, beautifully varied. The shading of colors is also a Kurdish characteristic.
Dyes.—Usually of the best. The Kurds have clung to the old colors more than any of the other rug-making people.
Designs.—Generally wild, irregular figures of various sizes scattered carelessly and the intervals filled with small indistinct figures. Lattice designs with each division filled with floral forms. The Herati and the pear designs are occasionally used.
Sizes.—Seldom large. From four to five by seven to eight feet and occasionally in carpet sizes.
Prices.—Usually from $0.75 to $3.00 per square foot. The prayer rugs are rare and expensive.
Remarks.—Freest of all from outside influences. Hard when new but most durable and satisfactory. In fact it is the best moderate priced rug now on the market.
THE EXAMPLE ILLUSTRATED
Owner's Description.—Upon a rich blue ground the Mina Khani design is accurately wrought, and the five-petaled Henna blossoms are symmetrically placed in their customary relation to the dark red, blue and golden yellow floral rosette forms distributed over the field. Three rather narrow borders surround the field, the middle one of which is yellow. The inner and outer borders carry tawny colors and small patterns.
