International studio (50.1913)

Oriental Rugs

ilization. Supported by the fertility of its well-
watered soil, a million people dwelt within its
walls when Genghis Khan pillaged and almost
destroyed it.
The greatest glory of its past is due to Tamer-
lane, who was born a day’s journey farther east.
This “scourge of Asia,” who conquered Persia,
overran the valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates,
subdued Asia Minor, subjugated Georgia, sacked
cities of Russia and
vanquished the ar¬
mies of northern In¬
dia, established at
Samarkand a most
magnificent and lux¬
urious capital. Here
he surrounded him¬
self with a cultured
and brilliant court
and erected exten¬
sive edifices in which
were united the art
of eastern and west¬
ern Asia. The sum¬
mer palace, his
mosque, the recep¬
tion hall containing
the famous greenish-
blue stone on which
stood his throne, and
the sepulchre where
lie his remains with¬
in a black marble
tomb, still attest the
grandeur of that
early period.
The rugs now
known as Samar-
kands are made
mostly in the coun¬
try a little farther
east; nor is it prob-
able that they are to be compared with the
magnificent carpets which early travelers referred
to as adorning the palace and mosque of Tamer-
lane, yet they undoubtedly resemble them. Some
are exceedingly beautiful and even contain silk
mixed with wool. In all of them the Chinese
element is particularly noticeable, rounded medal-
lions and frequently butterflies occupying the
field, while in the borders are stripes of fretwork
and swastikas that are rarely found in other woven
fabrics of Western Asia. Among the Persian and
Asia Minor rugs are many that are equally

attractive, but very few have such an interest,
since the recollection of where they were made
recalls some of the most important events in
history.
Every rug store has its Shiraz rugs, which may
be recognized by their silky nap, dyed rich tones
of blue, red and ivory; by their combination of
floral and geometric patterns; by the little tufts
of wool which at regular intervals protrude
at the sides; and by
the broad embroid-
ered webs at each
end. Full well the
Oriental knows the
lure of sentiment,
when he offers one
of these pieces for
sale as a “Mecca,”
because large num-
bers have been taken
on the yearly pil-
grimage to that most
sacred of Moham-
medan cities; and
whether bartered on
the road or offered
for propitiation to
the priests, many
have eventually
found their way to
the markets of
Cairo, Damascus or
Constantinople. Yet
to the student the
greatest charm of
one of these rugs
would be simply in
the fact that it was
made in or near Shi-
raz, once the literary
center of Persia. Per-
haps it was woven in
one of the many gardens, where the air is cooled by
the spray of fountains and running waters, where
the jasmine and rose spread their fragrance, and
where the nightingale utters its song at close of day.
Perhaps it was woven just beyond the walls, near
the tombs of Saadi and Hafiz, who long ago told in
verse of these same valleys bright with poppies in
spring, and of the same mountains parched and
brown in fall. Or, again, it may have been made
on the very spot where Cyrus, Darius or Xerxes
lived, or near the ruins of Perseopolis, which
Alexander and the beautiful Thais destroyed in a

Courtesy of Tiffany Studios
A BAKU RUG