International studio (50.1913)

Oriental Rugs

chards and its gardens are still famous in the East,
but there remains little vestige of its former glory.
On the eastern flank of Alt. Elwund, in north-
eastern Persia, is the city of Hamaden, which is
generally believed to rest on the ruins of the
ancient Echatana, capitol of the Medes. From
very early times until long after the conquest by
Cyrus, it was one of the most important centers
of early Aryan civilization. In the book of Esther,
we are told that the King “ruled from India even
unto Ethiopia, over one hundred and seven and
twenty provinces.” To the interest thus awak-
ened by the history of its power is added the
fascination of the simple story so typical of those
times, of how the King, after banishing his Queen
for refusing to appear before him, chose in her
stead from the most beautiful women of his realm
the fair Esther, who belonged to one of the
Jewish tribes that had not returned to Judea
after their captivity; and how, true to her race,
she had saved her uncle, Mordecai, from death
and obtained favor for her people. These events
occurred over twenty-four centuries ago, yet with-
in the walls of the city the Jews are still keeping
guard over the traditional burial place of the same
Mordecai and Esther.
Before the downfall of the old city the kings
ruled with royal magnificence in palaces con-
structed of cypress and cedar, and with columns
and ceilings covered with golden and silver plates.
Surrounding the walls were spacious gardens of
luscious fruits, fragrant flowers and fountains of
limpid waters. Here prevailed the sensuous
luxury of the East which led to its overthrow; but
on account of its excellent climate and delightful
surroundings, it continued for a long time to be
the summer resort of Persian monarchs.
Within the encircling walls of modern Hamadan
there still remain gardens, bazaars and mosques;
yet the general misery and squalor have little
to remind one of the magnificence of that former
capitol which for a short period was mistress of
the world.
The remembrance of such facts of profane and
sacred history add greatly to the enjoyment of
ownership in the old rugs from Hamadan. They
are rarely mistaken for any other class, for not
only have they technical peculiarities of weave,
but they are stout pieces in which the usual wool
of the pile is replaced by camel’s hair. This ex-
tends as a conspicuous band around the border,
and frequently occupies most of the field, where
its golden brown or chestnut color appears in
striking contrast with the bright blues and reds

of a central medallion. These rugs are not always
beautiful, but as they call to mind the days of
Queen Esther and the early struggles between the
Medes and Persians, they inspire a feeling of
attachment that is never shared with other rugs
woven in places of less consequence.
Still more interesting are the historic associa-
tions of the district where the Mosul rugs are
made; for they come from the same hills and val-
leys over which four thousand years ago Abraham
drove his flocks before migrating to Palestine.
Some of them are woven near the ruins of that
ancient Nineveh whither Jonas went to preach
the Mosaic law and, perhaps, remind the people
of that deluge which was recorded on Chaldean
tablets found within the magnificent palaces of
Sennacherib. In the zenith of its power the capi-
tol extended its rule over Babylonia, Asia Minor
and Assyria, and received tribute from Egypt; but
at last it was burned and completely destroyed by
combined armies of Medes and Babylonians.
Just across the Tigris from the ruined monu-
ments of this civilization of three thousand years
ago is the present city of Mosul, which was once
an important mart for the wares carried up and
down the river, as well as for the vast caravans
from east and west. It also became noted for the
textiles, from which were derived the name mus-
lins. But it was pillaged by Tamerlane, besieged
by Nadir Shah, and suffered from pestilence and
misrule until its and industries dwindled.
On account of the present remoteness of the
Mosul district from important highways of travel,
excellent rugs, free from the taint of aniline dyes,
are still woven there. Their glossy wool gives
richness to the prevailing yellow, brown and rus-
set tones. Their patterns often contain the unre-
lated motives of nomadic weavers associated with
graceful floral forms. They lack the artistic finish
of pieces made in the cities of Persia, but they rep-
resent the product of descendants of one of the
earliest civilizations, who still wander among ruins
of one of the greatest empires of antiquity.
These are only a few examples from the many
different classes of weaving, but they should be
sufficient to illustrate the fact that however great
the fascination which the delicate rhythm of grace-
ful lines and the harmonious tones of dainty color-
ing may awaken, our greatest delight in Oriental
rugs can only be experienced when to a sense of
the beautiful is added a feeling of attachment
derived from the knowledge of their association
with people, places and events, which have had a
part in the great drama of the world’s history.

LII