Type Characteristics. Colours, principally red and blue, also considerable yellow, green, and white. Knot, Ghiordes. Knots to inch horizontally five to eight; perpendicularly, seven to nine. The rows of knots are not firmly pressed down, so that the warp shows in places at back. Warp, wool; each of the two threads encircled by a knot is equally prominent at back, occasionally one to each knot is slightly depressed below the other. Weft, wool, of medium diameter, coloured red. A thread of warp usually crosses twice between every two rows of knots, rarely only once, and sometimes as many as four times. Pile, wool, clipped long. Border, two to three stripes. Sides, a double selvage of two, three, or four cords, usually coloured red or blue. Lower end, a web, either red or of several colours, and long warp fringe hanging loose or braided. Upper end, a web, either red or of several colours, beyond which is often a heavy braided selvage; also a long warp fringe hanging loose or braided. Texture, moderately loose. Weave at back is of slightly coarse grain. Length, four to seven feet. Width, three fifths to four fifths length.
Plate 41. Kuba Rug
Broussa.—At the base of Mt. Olympus and distant only twenty-five miles from the Sea of Marmora, with which it is connected by rail, is the city of Broussa. By reason of this location and its proximity to Constantinople, it is an important commercial centre; and on account of the excellence of the wool and silk obtained in the surrounding country, rugs are woven here for foreign markets. The fabrics are stoutly made and compare favourably with those of Smyrna.
Hereke.—In the town of Hereke, on the Sea of Marmora, is a Turkish factory, where large numbers of silk rugs are manufactured. Most of the silk is obtained in the immediate neighbourhood and from the country about Mt. Olympus. As the early weavers were brought from Kirman to instruct the artisans of the Sultan, and the patterns have been largely copied from old Persian and Asia Minor pieces, it is not surprising that many of the fabrics compare favourably with the silk rugs of Persia.
Koniehs.—At the base of Mt. Taurus and overlooking the salt desert of Central Asia Minor is the city of Konieh. Within its present walls is all that is left of the ancient Iconium that opened its gates to Xenophon, Cyrus, and Alexander, but drove forth the Apostle Paul. Finally it surrendered to Seljukian conquerors, who, realising the importance of its situation on one of the great highways between east and west and in an oasis of well-watered fields, orchards, and gardens which face a great barren plain, established there a Mussulman capital, that became noted for its opulence and culture. In later years it successfully resisted the assault of Frederic Barbarossa; but subsequently it declined, until now the only remaining vestiges of its former importance are several colleges, one hundred mosques, and the famous green tower surmounting the tomb of the whirling dervishes.
In few other cities of Asia Minor were greater inducements offered to the rug weavers. Surrounding them lay hills and plains that produced sheep with soft, fine fleeces. On the oaks that grew not far to the north lived the kermes, from which were obtained the vermilion dyes famous even through Persia. The political and commercial importance of the city, as well as the religious fanaticism of the people, aided them. Accordingly a great many choice pieces were formerly woven there, but on account of the remoteness of the city from the markets that supplied Europe, few found their way into channels of trade.
Large numbers were used solely for religious purposes, but other kinds are as frequently seen. All of them contain both geometric and floral forms. The geometric forms resemble designs prevalent in Eastern Anatolia and in Caucasia, such as latch-hooks, eight-pointed stars, and barber-pole stripes; and the floral forms consist of mechanically drawn palm leaves and the tree-of-life design.
Probably in no other Asia Minor rug is such latitude in the drawing of the prayer arch. Sometimes it begins below the middle of the field and rises at a sharp angle to a point near the upper end; again it may be exceedingly flat; but generally it has the same pitch as the arches of Kulahs, and, like them, the sides, as a rule, are stepped or serrated. Furthermore, it is not unusual to see latch-hooks projecting from each step or serration into the spandrel, which is filled with small floral and geometric forms. From the niche is occasionally suspended a lamp; and arranged against the border, on each side of the field, is a row of conventionalised flowers, or small sprigs which resemble three triangular-shaped petals at the end of a straight stem. These floral or foliate designs are one of the most constant features of this class. The borders are more geometric than those of almost any other Asia Minor rugs, and even when vines are represented they are drawn with stiff formality.