Kurdish Ghileems, like other Kurdish rugs, rank among the best of their class, being made of the finest of wool and closely woven. They usually consist of two or more pieces sewed together or joined by embroidered geometrical designs and many yarn ends are left loose on the under side, giving a shaggy appearance like the under side of the Shemakha rugs. In this respect they are unlike any of the other Ghileems. The colors are as a rule subdued, dark shades of crimson, blue, yellow, and green, with more or less black and white. The prayer design is frequent, with a niche like that of the Ghiordes. The ends are finished with a web upon which an attractive design is woven or through which runs a parti-colored thread similar to that in other Kurdish rugs. The antiques are very scarce. In sizes they vary from four to six by seven to twelve feet.
KURDISH GHILEEM
BY COURTESY OF NAHIGIAN BROS., CHICAGO, ILL.
THE EXAMPLE ILLUSTRATED
This is one of two strips which were originally sewed together like many of the Ghileems of this class. The predominating colors are green, red, dark brown and white. Each end is finished with a short web and braided warp threads. It also has many loose yarn ends on the back side, which is a characteristic feature of the Kurdish Ghileems.
MERVE GHILEEM
Merve Ghileems are made in the vicinity of Merve, in the Turkoman district. They differ from all other Ghileems in that the colors are divided diagonally instead of vertically or horizontally with the warp or woof threads. For this reason no open spaces are left. The colors are few and subdued, white especially being seldom used, and in design they are most modest, the field as a rule being divided transversely into three or four parts by ornate line patterns resembling in some respects the Kurdish Ghileems. They frequently come in prayer form with designs less striking than those of the Kurdish Ghileems and strongly resembling those of the Beluchistan. Some are of great size.
THE EXAMPLE ILLUSTRATED
One of two strips which were originally sewed together. Like many of its class the field of this piece is divided transversely into a number of stripes, each about a foot wide. Each stripe is of a different color, being tan, green, white and brown, and the whole field is covered with a trellis of serrated latch hook designs in red, the divisions of which contain diamond forms in different colors. There is a short web at each end, one with loose warp threads and the other knotted.