DOI Heft:
No. 206 (April, 1914)
DOI Artikel:Hawley, Walter A.: Three important groups of oriental household rugs
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43455#0410
Oriental Household Rugs
A BELUCHI RUG
Three important groups of
ORIENTAL HOUSEHOLD RUGS
BY WALTER A. HAWLEY
Besides the rare and beautiful car-
pets that belong to collectors and museums, there
are about one hundred different classes of Oriental
rugs, all of which are suitable for household use.
They come from China, India, Turkestan, Cau-
casia, Asia Minor and Persia, and have colours and
patterns that vary not only with each class, but
often with different specimens of the same class.
Probably one-half this number may be seen in any
large rug store, so that all but a most experienced
purchaser are generally confused with the great
variety and have little idea where any particular
rug was woven or what is its real worth. It will
be of considerable advantage to remember that
Oriental rugs for use belong to three broadly de-
fined groups: (a) The old types of rugs which are
made in or near villages, towns and cities by seden-
tary weavers for their personal use. (Z>) Rugs
made solely for commercial purposes, (c) Rugs
made by nomadic tribes.
To the first group belong those rugs which are
true to the early tradition of weaving. They rep-
resent a high standard of technique, a masterly
treatment of drawing and colour. They often dis-
play a delicate grace of line and wonderful har-
monies of tone that denote the touch of an artist
rather than the work of an artisan. In a measure
they also portray the ideal thought of the weaver.
The best known of this group are the Khoras-
san, Meshed, Kirman, Niris, Shiraz, Sarabend,
Hamaden, Feraghan, Sehna and Bijar from Persia;
the Daghestan, Kabistan, Shirvan and Baku from
Caucasia, and the Ghiordes, Kulah, Ladik, Ber-
gamo and Melez from Asia Minor. A descrip-
tion of two such as the Feraghan and Baku will
indicate the essential qualities of the others.
By the Persians themselves, the Feraghans are
regarded as belonging to a very high type of the
textile art. For generations their weavers have
felt the quickening influences of association; for
they live in the northeastern part of Persia, which
has been one of the most prolific centres of weav-
ing. In the Feraghan plain, which stretches for a
distance of forty-five miles eastward from the base
of lofty Mt. Elwund, are several hundred villages
in which they live, and where the women weave,
while the men cultivate the fields or watch their
flocks of sheep. On account of the simplicity of
their life it would seem that the beauty, sentiment
and dignity of their woven fabrics are due, in
some degree at least, to instincts derived from
their remote ancestors, who belonged to one of the
great races of antiquity.
So characteristic are the patterns that when
once observed these rugs are rarely mistaken for
any others. In at least nine-tenths of them the
field is entirely covered with a diaper pattern,
which is usually the well-known Herati design,
consisting of crumpled leaves, surrounded by a
conventionalized rose, or less frequently the Guli
Lin
A BELUCHI RUG
Three important groups of
ORIENTAL HOUSEHOLD RUGS
BY WALTER A. HAWLEY
Besides the rare and beautiful car-
pets that belong to collectors and museums, there
are about one hundred different classes of Oriental
rugs, all of which are suitable for household use.
They come from China, India, Turkestan, Cau-
casia, Asia Minor and Persia, and have colours and
patterns that vary not only with each class, but
often with different specimens of the same class.
Probably one-half this number may be seen in any
large rug store, so that all but a most experienced
purchaser are generally confused with the great
variety and have little idea where any particular
rug was woven or what is its real worth. It will
be of considerable advantage to remember that
Oriental rugs for use belong to three broadly de-
fined groups: (a) The old types of rugs which are
made in or near villages, towns and cities by seden-
tary weavers for their personal use. (Z>) Rugs
made solely for commercial purposes, (c) Rugs
made by nomadic tribes.
To the first group belong those rugs which are
true to the early tradition of weaving. They rep-
resent a high standard of technique, a masterly
treatment of drawing and colour. They often dis-
play a delicate grace of line and wonderful har-
monies of tone that denote the touch of an artist
rather than the work of an artisan. In a measure
they also portray the ideal thought of the weaver.
The best known of this group are the Khoras-
san, Meshed, Kirman, Niris, Shiraz, Sarabend,
Hamaden, Feraghan, Sehna and Bijar from Persia;
the Daghestan, Kabistan, Shirvan and Baku from
Caucasia, and the Ghiordes, Kulah, Ladik, Ber-
gamo and Melez from Asia Minor. A descrip-
tion of two such as the Feraghan and Baku will
indicate the essential qualities of the others.
By the Persians themselves, the Feraghans are
regarded as belonging to a very high type of the
textile art. For generations their weavers have
felt the quickening influences of association; for
they live in the northeastern part of Persia, which
has been one of the most prolific centres of weav-
ing. In the Feraghan plain, which stretches for a
distance of forty-five miles eastward from the base
of lofty Mt. Elwund, are several hundred villages
in which they live, and where the women weave,
while the men cultivate the fields or watch their
flocks of sheep. On account of the simplicity of
their life it would seem that the beauty, sentiment
and dignity of their woven fabrics are due, in
some degree at least, to instincts derived from
their remote ancestors, who belonged to one of the
great races of antiquity.
So characteristic are the patterns that when
once observed these rugs are rarely mistaken for
any others. In at least nine-tenths of them the
field is entirely covered with a diaper pattern,
which is usually the well-known Herati design,
consisting of crumpled leaves, surrounded by a
conventionalized rose, or less frequently the Guli
Lin