The sun., 1893-03-13
Counterfeit Oriental Ru-s.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Si; 1t hns been
asserted that there are tricks in every trade.
only they are not always detected.
There are tricks In painting it well known {:
and certain means are sometimes en- plo' cd
by certain artists to save labor or to produce
effects that. to say the very least are not to be
commended. The diamond is countcrfeited
various gems are falsiled SO rs to escape de-
lection save by tho expert: furniture and
paintings and coins are antiqued." and to
fresh bronze Is impaired tho tones Of age.
Latterly an other form OF countcr.eiting has
appeared. which. unless checked. will serious
ly inure an art that il replete with charm.
The Oriental rug has. in its turn. been selected
as a means OF unlawful. O.. ar least ilegiti-
mate. gain on the part of some who not salts
fed with the large profits 1t yield them. de-
mand still greater returns. New rugs with
crude colors are now ripened and mcliowed By
the enterprising American. and old rugs with
Objectionable hues are toned " into harmony
This Is notably the case with tho class Of
textile fabrics known as Samarca nds or Nal
garas. from eastern Turkestan "A class Of rugs
similar in weave to tho AfGhnns. and in which
the Chinese spirit is more or less noticeable in
the figures and designs.
1t is unnecessary to state that while the
Oriental has no compuncton about dyeing
his beard. he would MS soon think Of dyeins
rug as OF opening the portals Of his harcla or
turning his prayer carpet to the west while
performing his prisons to Allah. The dyrinG
in the loose fabric or in the piece. while the
art of bleaching is totally unknown.
1t is true that very old and thrcadharc TUES
are sometimes touched uD' with water cU,-
ors by tho Oriental middleman: but IL is is not
common. and 1t may be detected by close eX-
animation. The dyeing. or rat her tho 'undye-
ing" process Is modern invention and is
done in New York. the process consisting in
taking cheap Samarcand and other rugs in
bright colors and bleaching them hy chomi-
Gals. This decooration is quite cleyerly done.
the counterfeiter being able apparently TO re-
tain such colors as no chooses ana bleach or
am told. has proved very lucrhtiye one. ns
the process is a profound secret The effect
produced Ia often very artistic. the design of
undcrtone in soft shades. This is, especially
Observable in the yellow Samhrchnds. Tho !le'i
being seemingly to initiate the Chinese rugs
which have recently been pushed into vogue
confined to the productions OF II sinGi district;
and purchasers should be put on their guard
with respect to the adulteration generally Of
course 10 the connoisseur the fraud Is readily
may be stated that il usually reveals itself by
the presence Of spots or stains in the fabric. OF
hineront color or hue from the general tone.
NO Ssn. 70 40 s the,S GlemThes would be
providing dealers would handle the spurious
article. Tor which large prices arc obtained.
=, There are rugs enough. however. both an.
their production to supply the trade leGiti-
mately, without calling upon chemistry and
chicanery. At least the 'doctorsd" produc-
!Gns snoni1 bs ia6eiled as doctorsd" or
itiated would not be imposed upon.
GEORGE II. EILwASGER