Oriental Rugs, Antique and Modern

by W. A. Hawley

Plate 51. Royal Bokhara Rug

It is a relief to turn from these poor pieces to those woven half a century ago, with less obtrusive colouring and more chaste patterns. Many of the old pieces are oblong sedjadehs, which have often a length almost twice the breadth; though the more modern pieces incline to smaller and nearly square sizes. There are also namazliks that do not always religiously follow the usual pattern; for now and then one is seen with an arch of several steps, rising from near the middle of the sides, and with a diamond for the sacred earth or pebble from Mecca, as is shown in Plate [C], Fig. 12 (Page 61). The particular piece from which this was drawn was over fifty years old and was three fourths as wide as long. Scattered over the main field, which was yellowish brown, and the spandrels, which were white, were geometrically shaped flowers with long angular stems tinted with blue, green, and pinkish red.

The borders show as great diversity as the fields, but one stripe usually contains a concession to the Persian and another to the Caucasian tradition. For instance, the primary stripe may be of Iranian character flanked by the running latch-hook; or it may be the well-known crab pattern, while the adjacent stripe may be a running vine of simple form.

Many of these old pieces are very handsome and equal in artistic finish the best of Caucasian rugs; the drawing is carefully executed; the colours are rich; the weave is fair; but like the rare old rugs of Daghestan and Tiflis, are now seldom seen.

Type Characteristics. Colours, principally red, blue, yellow, and white. Knot, Ghiordes. Knots to inch horizontally six to ten; perpendicularly, seven to ten. The rows of knots are only slightly pressed down, yet the warp is generally concealed at back. Warp, wool; one of the two threads encircled by a half knot is depressed below the other at back. Weft, wool, of medium or coarse diameter, sometimes dyed red. A thread of weft crosses twice between every two rows of knots. Pile, wool, of short or medium length. Border, three stripes. Sides, generally a double selvage of two or three cords, in lengths of different colours; occasionally a double overcasting attached figure-eight fashion. Lower end, a web and warp loops, or a braided selvage, one row of knots or more, and a warp fringe. Upper end, a web, a web turned back and hemmed, or a braided selvage, one row of knots or more, and a warp fringe. Texture, loose. Weave at back is of coarse grain. Usual length, four to nine feet. Usual width, one half to three quarters length.

Shushas.—About seventy miles to the southeast of Lake Gotcha is Shusha, capital of Karabagh. Nearly two centuries ago, it was built by Nadir Shah on an almost inaccessible mountain side to guard the northern boundary of Persia, which had been extended to the Caucasus. It has now about twelve thousand inhabitants, and is the market place for numerous tribes that are scattered over the dry plains as far as the Aras river. In this city and in the suburbs are woven rugs that are frequently imported to this country and sold under several names, yet are of a distinct type. They resemble the Karabaghs of the surrounding country but differ from them in their richer and more subdued colours as well as in the stoutness of weave. One thread of warp to each knot is doubled beneath the other, whereas in the rugs of the desert tribes it is only depressed.

Type Characteristics. Colours, principally dark blue, red, and brown, with minor quantities of green and yellow. Knot, Ghiordes. Knots to inch horizontally seven to twelve; perpendicularly, six to eleven. The rows of knots are only slightly pressed down, so that the warp shows at back. Warp, wool; one of the two threads encircled by a knot is much depressed below the other at back, and frequently doubled under the other. Weft, wool, of medium diameter, generally dyed red. A thread of weft crosses twice between every two rows of knots. Pile, wool of medium length. Border, three stripes. Sides, a double selvage of two or three cords, often attached to the sides in figure-eight fashion. Lower end, a narrow web and warp loops. Upper end, a web that is sometimes turned back and hemmed, and a warp fringe. Texture, moderately firm. Weave at back is of slightly coarse grain. Usual length, four to nine feet. Usual width, one half to three quarters length.

Genghas.—Over the land lying between lakes Gotcha, Van, and Urumiah, in Caucasia, Armenia, and Persia, tribes of mixed origin wander back and forth, but frequently gather at the yearly fair of Elizabethpol. During the period when the Persian rule extended over the country, it was the residence of a Khan and an important centre of trade. As it was then known as Ganja or Gengha, the weavings of these nomads, which were marketed there, acquired that name.