Oriental Rugs, Antique and Modern

by W. A. Hawley

Type Characteristics. Colours, principally ivory, light blue, and reddish brown, also some yellow and green. Knot, Ghiordes. Knots to inch horizontally five to ten; perpendicularly, six to twelve. The most conspicuous half of a knot, as it appears at the back, is longer than wide. The rows of knots are only slightly pressed down, so that the weft is noticeable at back. Warp, cotton; one of the two threads encircled by a knot is depressed below the other at back, or each thread is equally prominent. Weft, of cotton, seldom of wool, of moderately coarse diameter. A thread of weft crosses twice between every two rows of knots. Pile, wool of medium length. Border, generally of three stripes. Sides, a two-cord double selvage. Lower end, a very narrow web and short warp fringe. Upper end, a short warp fringe. Texture, loose. Weave at back is of very coarse grain. Usual length, nine to fifteen feet. Usual width, two thirds to seven eighths length.

Suj-Bulaks.—About fifty miles to the south of Lake Urumiah and the same distance from the western boundary of Persia is the old Kurdish capital of Suj-Bulak. Kurds still largely predominate in the district and comprise most of the population of the city, to the discomfort of the much smaller number of Persians, for whose protection a large garrison was formerly maintained. Accordingly, the rugs made in this vicinity are strongly characteristic of Kurdish pieces in the strong texture, the excellent quality of wool, the rich, dark colours, the finish of sides and ends. The patterns also are largely Kurdish, but frequently show the influence of Persian association.

In typical old pieces deep reds and blues are largely used. One of them is generally the ground colour of the central field, and shows the Kurdish influence by a gradual shading from end to end; the other appears in the overlying pattern, which partakes of a floral character. The drawing sometimes represents flowering plants, such as the rose bush, arranged in perpendicular rows and brightened by tints of white, green, or yellow. Detached flowers not infrequently line the edges of the field. The wide borders also, as a rule, have vines and floral forms.

Type Characteristics. Colours, principally dark red and blue, with minor quantities of brown, green, yellow, and ivory. Knot, Ghiordes. Knots to inch horizontally seven to ten; perpendicularly, eight to twelve. The rows of knots are, as a rule, pressed down, so that the alignment of each half knot is very uneven; but frequently this feature is not regularly maintained in all parts of the same rug, so that here and there the warp is noticeable at back. Warp, wool; each of the two threads encircled by a knot is generally equally prominent at back, but occasionally one is depressed below the other. Weft, wool, of medium diameter. A thread of weft crosses twice between every two rows of knots. Pile, wool of medium length. Border, of three to four stripes. Sides, a double selvage of two or three cords in blue, red, or brown. Lower end, a web through which runs a parti-coloured cord, and a warp fringe. Frequently there is a braided selvage in addition to the web. Upper end, the same as lower, excepting that the web is occasionally turned back and hemmed. Texture, moderately loose. Weave at back is of slightly coarse grain. Usual length, six to seven feet. Usual width, two fifths to three fifths length.

Karadaghs.—In the extreme northwestern part of Persia, between the city of Tabriz and the river Aras, is a mountain range called Kara Dagh, which signifies the “Black Mountain,” On its slopes and in the adjoining valleys rugs have been woven for at least several hundred years, and at one time were well known in Europe, but few have reached this country. Most of them are produced for home use, so that they are, as a rule, well woven, of good material, and of vegetable dyes. They resemble in colour scheme, weave, and finish of sides and ends the rugs of Karabagh, which immediately adjoins this district on the north. Indeed, in no other rugs of Persia are the traditions of Iranian weavers so much disregarded and Caucasian ideas so closely followed.

The field of many of these rugs is completely covered with conventionalised flowers of several different colours, so arranged that diagonal lines are of similar colours. Sometimes it is covered with a pattern of hexagonal-shaped figures containing geometric forms or conventionalised floral designs. Again, it may contain the Herati pattern or one similar to the Mina-Khani. In fact, some repetitive pattern of small design is the usual type; but now and then some form of pole medallion, which the weavers have learned from their more southern neighbours, is substituted. The patterns of the borders are either mechanically drawn vines or contain geometric figures characteristic of Caucasian pieces. For guard stripes the reciprocal trefoil is constantly used.

The colour scheme is generally bright and pleasing. A favourite colour for the field is blue or a camel’s hair yellow; sometimes rose is seen. The nap of modern pieces is medium long and of old pieces is short. The weave of the latter is excellent, so that the closely pressed knots and stout threads of weft make at the back an even surface unlike the coarse appearance of many rugs.

Type Characteristics. Colours, principally blue, red, yellow, green, and white. Knot, Ghiordes. Knots to inch horizontally seven to eleven; perpendicularly, seven to eleven. The rows of knots are not firmly pressed down, so that the warp appears at back, and the weft is prominent. Warp, wool; each of the threads encircled by a knot is equally distinct at back. Weft, wool, of coarse diameter, occasionally dyed. A thread of weft crosses twice between every two rows of knots. Pile, wool, of moderate length. Border, three to six stripes. Sides, a double selvage of two or three cords. Both ends, a narrow web and short warp fringe. Texture, moderately firm. Weave at back is of rather coarse grain. Usual length, five to nine feet. Usual width, two fifths to two thirds length.

Mosuls.—Near the ruins of ancient Nineveh, on the bank of the Tigris, is the city of Mosul. Once it was not only an important mart for wares carried up and down the river, and for vast caravans from east and west, but it became noted for its textiles from which was derived the name “muslin.” At length on account of pestilence, misrule, and the sack of armies its population and industries have dwindled; though it is still the capital and commercial centre of a district that lies between the high table-lands surrounding Lake Van and the low plains of Bagdad, and that extends across the Mesopotamian valley to the mountain ridges bordering Western Persia. Within this extensive area are large stretches of rich pasture, where Abraham once fed his flocks, and where each year Kurdish nomads from the north drive their sheep when the winter snows cover their own hillsides. Arabs, Turks, Armenians, Jews, and Christians likewise mingle with the natives, so that the population is as mixed as can be found anywhere in the Orient.