The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-16
been replaced by a Lord Wilton bull, which was
purchased for the royal farm at the Carwardine
PERSIAN CARPETS.
Rugs Fit for Royalty Made by Peasants in
Persia,

80
Persia.
The far famed rugs ana carpets of Persia are
largely made by peasants In their homes, ana are
in reality IL sort of needle work. United States
Consul general Benjamin, at Teheran, has sent to
the State Department a long account of the
business. He says there are four classes of
these carpets-the large size, the rugs, the CHI
leen, or knitted goods, and the namads, or 1elt
carpets. Carpets produced at lrak are called
pharaghans, and are firmer than other Persian
carpets. Large4sized carpets must be made to
order. Besides the pharaghan carpets. he says,
floors are also carpeted sometimes with fabrics
from Kerwanshab, Howadan ard the districts OF
Lauristan. Also, for this purpose the carpets
of Mech Kabad, in Khorassen, are available,
although of inferior texture to the phara-
CHAN. The carpets of Kerwan have the
texture fitted to the rough usage
required in covering floors, But while perhaps
of superior quality to the pharaghan, they are
always small and proportionately more eXpen-
sive. The Persian carpet par excellence Is the
rug. The Persians use those in preference to
large sizes. First covering the floor with a
hasseer or mating of split reeds, they lay over
it many rugs which completely conceal the mat.
This arrangement, when composed of rugs OF
harmonious designs, is very rich, while the cost
is actually less than if one large carpet were en-
ployed instead.
The varieties of Persian rugs are numerous.
In some sorts, like the T~urkowan, there is a
general similarity of designs, although no two
rugs are altogether Identical. But In otner
classes, such as the rugs of Kerwap, Doyoche-
gan, or Kurdistan, there is endless variety in de-
sign and texture, A point to be considered Is
that while the small carpets of Persia go under
the general designation of rugs, it would be a Sc,
rious mistake to consider them all
as merely carpets rod of 81 small Nv size bea w,
shoes. In the first place, Persians when at
home take off their shoes and thus a carpet of
fine, delicate wool and design will last for ages,
and actually improve with use such as this In
1.--o a-anN - 6 4hn p1n
of Persia, and especially the finer grades, are
never intended to be laid on theshoor, but to
cover divans or tables, or hang as tapestries and
portieres. This explains the extreme hneness OF
texture and velvet surface which many of these
rugs display, and also accounts Tor the fringe at
the ends. Some of the rugs of Kerwan are
about as fine as cashmere shawls.
The designs of these rugs were formerly OF a
large pattern, with a general ground OF red,
white or some other uniform tint, with borders
and details of minute tracery, harmonizing with,
rather than disturbing the general effect. These
patterns are unquestionably of higher artistic
Importance, exhibiting a quality designated
by artists as breadth. At present, while
texture, there is an evident tend
ency toward smaller designs which lose
much of the effect unless seen with close inspec-
ton. Perhaps this is only the result of reaction
from long-established custom, and 1t must be
conceded that the modern designs of Persian
rugs are more popular with the average Ameri-
can and European buyer. The colors formerly
employed in the rugs Of Persia were imperish-
able. Rug one hundred years old show no de-
terioration in the tint, but rather a ~softness such
as old paintings assume. The Introduction OF
aniline dyes at one time threatened to rnin the
manufacture of textile fabrics in Persia, but the
law against the employment of aniline dyes en-
acted by the Persian government, is enforced
with vigor. The namads or felt carpets of Per
STA, although produced by a process which, per-
haps, excludes them from the list OF strictly tex
tile fabrics, may yet properly be considered in
this report. The namad is made by forming a
frame of the thickness intended, or eXcavating a
place in the ground of the size and depth equlva-
lent to the namad intended. The hair is
laid in this, and beaten with mallets until
the original disjointed mass has OBJ
tanned cohesion and is reduced to
the dimensions of the frame. A design of
colored threads is beaten into the upper surface,
sometimes quite effectively. The named, how
ever, is desirable less for its beauty than the
complete sense of comfort it affords. 1t is much
thicker than other carpets, and the sensation to
the tread is luxurious. No carpet has ever been
manufactured that is more suitable for the com
fort of a sleeping-room in winter OF course
there is a difference in the quality Of these nam
ads, but the dearest are far cheaper than the
same surface of carpets or rugs woven in the
usual styles.
The great weight and clumsiness of the nam
ads must unfortunately prevent their exporta-
ton to any extent until the means of transport
are improved. The best quality of namad is
made at Aspahan, but the most massive are pro-
duced at Yezd. One would imagine that the
size Of the nanad must necessarily be limited.
But, on the contrary, the regular Persian carpets
rarely equal and never exceed the dimensions Of
some namads. The namad is, more often than
the carpets, intended to cover an entire floor,
elegant rugs being laid over it in places.