The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-22
THE HOME.

HOW PERSIAN RUGS ARE MADE.
Certain districts of Persia and even
whole tribes, are especially devoted to the
weaving of rugs. each having certain char
acteristics peculiar to that region. although
each rug has in turn an individuality of its
own. There are no elaborate schools of
industrial or decorative art No art pro-
fessors, no principles laid down for the
practice of the weaving or the designing of
the pattern. exist there No prizes or
medals are offered; there are no exhibit
tions or fairs where competition and pro-
gress are encouraged. The rugmaker
draws his inspiration solely from the in
stinct for certain types of the beautiful
universal among the people; his technical
knowledge Is acquired by seeing his father
or his mother at the loom families and en-
tire villages follow this pursuit from gen.
Grafton to generation. In summer perhaps
some Of them till the fields or pasture their
fiocks. In autumn and winter they weave
carpets, just as the fishermen of Cape Ann
make shoes one season and 60 a-fshing on
the ocean another season.
The looM stands on the porch of the fiat
rooted adobe house, or under the plane
tree by the tank in the courtyard where
the fowls are scratching the earth; over
head the nightingale and the blackbird are
beginning to pipe their songs of welcome
to the approaching summer. Humble as
those people may be, they enjoy the at
fractions OF nature, in certain inartlcu-
late way, perhaps, but yet far more keenly
than our own country folk of the same
rank. The frame of the loom is composed
of rough untrimmed branches on which the
bark may still be seen. The warp, which
Is generally OF wool or linen, and some
times now Of cotton cords, is stretched from
top to bottom, and the weaver sits before
barefooted, resting on his knees and heels,
as all Persians sit, of whatever rank or de-
gree. 1t matters not whether 1t be man,
woman, or child, they all work at carpet
weaving. and all sit in that position.
The wool or woollen stuff of which the
texture of the carpet Is made is reeled by
the same individuals who make the rug,
and they also make the colors and dye the
wool. The c0lOr5 are generally extracted
from vegetable materials, and are in most
cases imperishable. The wool itself will
wear away before the color Is faded out
OF late there has been tendency to use
analine dyes imported from Europe, and this
is having very injurious effect on the So
called B0khara rugs. But the use of these
dyes Is strickly forbidden in Persia. and
therefore they are as yet employed with
caution in the rugs OF that country. But
the embroderies of Resebt, near the Rus
sian border. are greatly impaired by these
wretched tints.
The weaver lays the different colored
threads in strands at his side. AS he needs
to use them, he cuts them Into short tufts
with scissors or knife. These bits are
twisted into the warp with his fingers, and
thus form the wool. The process is neces-
plicated. the more particularly because the
weaver sits facing the reverse side. Wheth-
or following some special design or con-
venti0nal pattern, the weaver does no con-
Germ himself to follow 1t too carefully. un-
less distinctly filling an "order," but al
lows play to his fancy. Herein appears
that individuality which gives such charm
to Persian rug. In none of them, except
some Of recent make, is there such absolute
f0rmality of design as we see in European
carpet. Hence one never Wearies of 1t.
Ever and anon one discovers In 1t some fig
ure or tint before unsupported.
When a row OF the wool has been inter-
woven with the warp, frame with teeth Is
hammered down upon 1t until 1t becomes an
integral part Of the layer below, and thus
consistent mass Is formed, with rich uni
form pile. There is great variety to the
texture OF Persian carpets, not so much in
those made by the same family or district
have Loose, others close. warp; a long
heavy pile, or one that Is short. These and
other peculiarities will be further detailed
In the succeeding article. Oriental rugs
are not intended to be trod on with heavy
shoes, but merely with stockings or light
slippers, while others are exclusively used
for covers of divanS or as p0rtieres. We're
1t not for this fact there would not be so
many really old Persian rugs In the market
which are still In very tolerabie condition.
When purchasing an old rug. however,
which Is held at smart price, it is well to
examine it carefully. While the colors
may have been softened into beautiful
tone agreeable to the artistic eye, 1t may be
also that the pile has been cleverly shaved
to give an even surface, a common trick In
Oriental bazars. The color may be renewed
the dirt partly rem owed, by this process,
but the durability Of the article Is at the
same time seriously impaired. Nor should
old rugs be bought merely because they
are old. Undoubtedly some antique Persian
carpets are superior to those made now, es-
pecially In the quality of the dark rich
blues. But 1t is the sheerest affectation to
buy an old, ragged, dirty, altogether faded
out and patched rug. sometimes, as I have
seen them, pieced out from other rugs, SIM
ply because 1t Is antique and has a name
to 1t, unless bought as curiosity, like
faded gobelin. As thing of beauty, suit
able for decoration, its usefulness is past
s. g. w. Benjamin. In Harper's Bazaar.