Chapter I: Preface

SINCE the appearance, in 1900, of the excellent work of Mr. John Kimberly Mumford on Oriental Rugs, the public interest in these fabrics has so largely increased that the author feels warranted in offering this monograph, which aims to treat the subject in a way that will not only appeal to the general reader but be of value to the student.

In the chapter entitled “Rug Weaving Before the XVIII Century” is a brief review of some of the notable achievements in this branch of art; and in order that the public may as far as possible have access to the masterpieces described, the carpets on exhibition in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York have been given unusual prominence. The chapters on “How to Distinguish Rugs” and on “Purchasing Rugs” should prove serviceable to those who are collecting or are buying for use; and the chapter on “Weaving” contains many details which have not previously received from connoisseurs the consideration they deserve.

The descriptions of all but the least important classes of rugs in the Persian, Asia Minor, Caucasian, and Central Asiatic groups include not only a general statement of their most striking features, but also a technical analysis that is termed “Type Characteristics.” It should be understood, however, that these characteristics are not invariable, but are remarkably constant. They may interest chiefly those who aim to acquire expert information, yet they will doubtlessly prove valuable to every owner of a rug as a means for its identification.

It would be difficult to acknowledge all the assistance received by the author since he began the study of rugs; for sometimes a mere suggestion has started a line of investigation resulting in interesting discoveries. He has freely consulted well-known authorities, who are quoted in the body of the work; and has received valuable suggestions and assistance from Messrs. T. S. Hawley, of Santa Barbara, Cal., George Harootunian and Frank Loftus, of Los Angeles, Cal.; George Stevenson, of New York; G. Graf, of the Persische Teppiche Gesellschaft, of Tabriz; and P. de Andrea & Co., of Constantinople. He gratefully acknowledges the permission of Messrs. C. F. Williams, of Norristown, Penn., and James F. Ballard, of St. Louis, Mo., to study their valuable collections; and the permission of Dr. Wilhelm R. Valentiner, Curator of Decorative Arts in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, to examine the carpets of the museum and to take photographs of them. He also wishes particularly to mention the kindness of the following collectors and firms who have allowed their rugs to be used for illustrations: Miss Emily Davis, of Buffalo, N. Y.; the Misses Palache, and Messrs. Nathan Bentz and T. S. Hawley, of Santa Barbara, Cal.; Mr. R. Y. Struble, of Fredericktown, Ohio; Mr. E. L. Pierce, of Syracuse, N.Y.; Mr. H. C. Merritt, of Pasadena, Cal.; Mr. J. F. Ballard, of St. Louis, Mo.; Mr. C. F. Williams, of Norristown, Penn.; Major L. B. Lawton, U.S.A., of Seneca Falls, N.Y.; Messrs. Mihran & Co., of Los Angeles, Cal.; Messrs. B. Altman & Co., Benguiat & Keresey, Wm. Baumgarten & Co., Jones & Brindisi, Jos. Wild & Co., W. & J. Sloane, and the Tiffany Studios, of New York City. He is also indebted to Vincent Robinson & Co., Ltd., of London, for the use of the colour plate of the Royal Garden Carpet, now owned by them, and to the Royal Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, London, for permission to obtain a colour plate of the Holy Carpet of the Mosque of Ardebil.

WALTER A. HAWLEY.

NEW YORK, June, 1913.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I INTRODUCTION 15

II PHYSICAL FEATURES AND HISTORY OF RUG-PRODUCING
LANDS 20

III MATERIALS 30

IV DYEING 37

V WEAVING 44

VI DESIGNS AND SYMBOLS 58

VII RUG WEAVING BEFORE THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY 74

VIII CLASSIFICATION OF MODERN RUGS 97

IX PERSIAN RUGS 102

X ASIA MINOR RUGS 163

XI CAUCASIAN RUGS 197

XII CENTRAL ASIATIC RUGS 233

XIII INDIAN RUGS 253

XIV CHINESE RUGS 263

XV KILIMS 276

XVI HOW TO DISTINGUISH RUGS 282

XVII PURCHASING RUGS 295

INDEX 309

ILLUSTRATIONS

COLOURED PLATES

PLATE

I The Holy Carpet of the Mosque of Ardebil _Frontispiece_
OPPOSITE PAGE

II Oushak Carpet 40

III Mosul Rug 66

IV Bergamo Rug 102

V Ghiordes Prayer Rug 130

VI Royal Persian Garden Carpet _Between pages 160 and 161_

VII Ladik Prayer Rug 190

VIII Soumak Rug 210

IX Samarkand Rug 240

X Kang-hi Rug 270

XI Keen-lung Rug 300

HALF-TONE ENGRAVINGS

Plate 1 Khorassan Rug 22

” 2 Meshed Rug 26

” 3 Kirman Rug 30

” 4 Shiraz Rug 34

” 5 Niris Rug 36

” 6 Feraghan Rug 42

” 7 Feraghan Rug 46

” 8 Hamadan Rug 52

” 9 Sarouk Rug 56

” 10 Sarabend Rug 58

” 11 Carpet from Northwestern Persia 64

” 12 Carpet from Northwestern Persia 68

” 13 Compartment Carpet 70

” 14 Persian Animal Carpet 72

” 15 Persian Animal Carpet 76

” 16 Persian Animal Carpet 78

” 17 So-called Polish or Polonaise Carpet 80

” 18 So-called Ispahan 84

” 19 Armenian Carpet 86

” 20 Asia Minor Dragon and Phœnix Carpet 88

” 21 Portrait of Georg Gyze by Hans Holbein 92

” 22 Oushak Carpet 94

” 23 Sehna Rug 98

Map of Persia 104

” 24 Bijar Rug 106

” 25 Kermanshah Rug 110

” 26 Kurdistan Rug with Mina Khani Pattern 114

” 27 Gorevan Rug 118

” 28 Bergamo Prayer Rug 122

” 29 Ghiordes Prayer Rug 126

” 30 Ghiordes Rug 132

” 31 Kulah Prayer Rug 136

” 32 Melez Prayer Rug 140

” 33 Melez Rug 144

” 34 Rhodian Rug 148

” 35 Konieh Prayer Rug 152

” 36 Kir-Shehr Prayer Rug 154

” E Primary Border-Stripes of Persian Rugs 156

” F Secondary Border-Stripes of Persian Rugs 158

Map of Asia Minor 164

” 37 Anatolian Prayer Rug 166

” 38 Mudjar Prayer Rug 168

” 39 Daghestan Prayer Rug 172

” 40 Kabistan Rug 176

” 41 Kuba Rug 180

” 42 Chichi Rug 184

” 43 Tcherkess Rug 188

” G Primary Border-Stripes of Asia Minor Rugs 192

” H Secondary Border-Stripes of Asia Minor Rugs 194

Map of Caucasia 198

” 44 Baku Rug 200

” 45 Shirvan Rug 202

” 46 Soumak Rug 204

” 47 Kazak Prayer Rug 208

” 48 Kazak Rug 212

” 49 Karabagh Prayer Rug 214

” 50 Gengha Prayer Rug 218

” 51 Royal Bokhara Rug 222

” 52 Princess Bokhara Rug 224

” I Primary Border-Stripes of Caucasian Rugs 226

” J Primary Border-Stripes of Caucasian Rugs 228

” K Secondary Border-Stripes of Caucasian Rugs 230

Map of Turkestan 234

” 53 Turkoman Rug with Katchli Pattern 236

” 54 Turkoman Rug with Pindé Pattern 238

” 55 Turkoman Rug of the Salor Tribes 244

” 56 Yomud Rug 248

” L Primary and Secondary Border-Stripes of Central
Asiatic Rugs 250

” 57 Beshire Prayer Rug 254

” 58 Beshire Rug 258

” 59 Afghan Rug 260

” 60 Beluchistan Prayer Rug 264

” 61 Turkoman Saddle-bags 268

” M Medallions in Chinese Rugs 272

” N Primary and Secondary Border-Stripes of
Chinese Rugs. 274

” 62 Srinagar Rug 278

” 63 XVIII Century Chinese Rug 282

” 64 Keen-lung Rug 286

” 65 Keen-lung Rug 292

” 66 Kurdish Prayer Kilim 296

BLACK AND WHITE ENGRAVINGS

Plate A An Upright Loom 45

” B Technicalities of Weaving 49

” C Prayer Arches of Persian, Caucasian, and Centra
Asiatic Rugs 61

” D Prayer Arches of Asia Minor Rugs 63

” O General Designs 291

CHARTS

Periods when Antique Carpets were made 96

Technicalities in the weave of Persian Rugs 161

Technicalities in the weave of Persian Rugs 162

Technicalities in the weave of Asia Minor Rugs 196

Technicalities in the weave of Caucasian Rugs 232

Technicalities in the weave of Central Asiatic Rugs 252

ORIENTAL RUGS

ANTIQUE AND MODERN

ORIENTAL RUGS