The morning times., 1895-12-15
Precious Rugs
In the Far East
FORTUNES INVESTED in BLUE
BOKHARAS AND KHOKASSANS.
Magnificent Specimens in the
Possession of Mrs. Rookie
feller and Mrs. Goelet.

The possession of at least one Eastern
rug is necessary to every woman's con-
tentment of heart. The more ancient and
weather-beaten IL happens TO look the bet
ter for then the owner can easily persuade
herself that IL has been in her family for
centuries and trodden upon by hundreds OF
ancestors. -
III YOU can invest in only one rug, let II
be a Daghestan-tliat is if you have a
moderate sum 10 expend, say $50 or $3.50
Orwell, $500. Khorassau is more val
liable of course. but it is only when one has
more money than one knows quite what to
do with that she take $500 or $500 of
it, or $1,000 or 81 800 aud orders a
Khorassau for her drawing-room.
The one is a Turkish rug-the DaghestaD;
the other, Khorassau, is Persian rug
and they take their names from the towns
in which they are woven; Ii might seem that
the only difference between the two was
u matter of miles and furlongs.
The mode of manufacture is the same for
each: the essential difference Is in the
style of the pattern, the Turkish being the
more arabesque.
VARIETY IN MANUFACTURE.
As no two Ionic capitals of Greek work
manship even in the same temple, We're
alike, in anything but general size and
character, so in the Turkish rug, the same
pattern is never again exactly reproduced.
The Persian rugs, more often than not,
have their patterns. which are, as a rule'
geometrical figures, defined clearly ON both
sides, and are woven quite smooth.
Feraghanl, Herman, Kurdistan and khor-
assam are the four chief places in Persia
for the manufacture of carpets or rugs.
The Herati pattern is a common one Tor the
Khorassan carpets; il is tie favorlte eight
pointed star enlarged and repeated over the
whole.
The arabesque designs, peculiar TO Turk
ish rugs, show five-leaved roses ana curl
ling tendrils; The borders, i'll many cases,
have traces of Arabian ornamental writ
ing, the peculiarity of the patterns being
accounted for by the theory that the carpets
represent inlaid Jeweled work, which ac-
cords with the Oriental delight in gems
and precious stones.
The many mistakes In the matching OF
colors. which on careful scrutiny are often
apparent, is said to be due 10 the fact
that the weaver. while working with
certain wool, if ii ru ms short, replaces 1t
with another as near like it as possible,
without taking the trouble or the delay
to get the exact shade.
COLOR SCHEMES.
There is special reason also for the
softness of tint noticeable in the Eastern
woods. this is caused by their being dyed
in their naturally greasy state. so that
soft, oily luster permeates all the colors.
For the same reason. white always has
yellowish-gray appearance But in many
instances the dim colors are due TO the
fact that they are actually dirty
Color pile and quality have much to do
with determining The price OF "A rug. one
showing bright reds and greens, of course
is not as valuable rs one in dull shades.
The Bokhara, a Turkish rug. is very
fine weave, and usually high priced; red
is a predominant color; if blue in any
quantity is used in the rug, ii Is sure to
bring higher price. Ivory white fig
ures on dark, rich red is a common COM
biuation In a Bokhara. In a Daghestan,
blue is frequently seen, but if you possess
a Bokhara with much or any blue in it, you
are lucky Indeed.
MILLIONAIRE RUG OWNERS.
AS rule it is only an Astor or a Van
derbllt who can own blue Bokharas.
At the last Worlds Fair John d. Rookie
feller bought an Eastern rug, OF rather
carpet for which he paid 100000. 1t is
superb example of au antique Persian rug.
Cornelius Vanderbilt also has a fondness for
these deliciously expensive poetical East
eru stuffs, and paid nearly as much Tor
rug-or $4,000. Pliuy tells us of Pa bylon-
ian tapestries figured with plants and
animals, the sphinx, griffins and dragons,
for which prices varying from $4,000 to
400, 900 scsterces were paid-but this
probably is nothing to what the modern
millionaire pays for bit OF covering for
his floor-uulesS the sesterce is more than
the present scribe imagines and she is
obliged to confess 10 total ignorance on
this point.
Many of the most magnificent exam
Piles of Eastern carpets have found their
way to New York and are owned by the
little brothers and sisters of the rich;
for instance, Mrs. Goelet has an imperial
Khorassan court carpet, for which some
thing like $40, 900 was paid. 1t is large
carpet, about twenty feet long by seven
teen feet wide. The background is a
dark blue, the design being carried out in
soft shades of gold, blue, cream and old
red, with a border of gold covered with
medallions of rich blue. An interesting
point in connection with this rug is that
on each end the seal of the maker has
been woven in a small blue panel. The
carpet was originally made by the royal
weavers for the imperial Persian court
A Khorassan which is part of the fur
nishing OF a Madison avenue mansion
was once also the property of a Shah of
Persia, and the choice particular star of