Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-10-24
THE RUG DESIGNERS
PATTERNS DESCEND FROM PARENT
TO CHILD IN THE ORIENT.


Reasons why Animal Figures Are
Rarely Seen on Persian Hugs.
Prayer Rugs of the Mohnmmedahs
and Their Use-The Rugs of SiYas
The designs Of eastern rugs are often
the spontaneous outcome Of the fancy
Of the weaver. Sometimes they are
handed down from one generation 10
another. In some cases young girls are
taught the design 10y an adult, who
marks it in the sand. At other times n
drawing of the rug is made on paper
The instructor showing her pupils the
arrangement of every thread and the
color TO be used. When all this has
been done, the pupils must make the
rug without looking at the drawing.
Persian rugs excel those of other
countries in artistic design as well as
I'm harmonious coloring. The Persians
seem to have a natural intuition In the
use and blending Of different shades,
and in the designs that contain these
certain colors they achieve the happiest
results 1t is really wonderful what
exquisite fabrics these people born
and reared I'm ignorance and poverty,
produce.
The designs in Persian rugs are gen
orally floral and in some districts, es-
pcciaIly Ears, the women weavers In
vent the designs, varying them every
two or three years. The Mohammedan
IL
rcscntatiOn Of animal forms, conse-
UucntIy rugs woven under its influence
take floral "comctric and vegetable
forms The Shiah sect of Moslems,
however, numbering about 100000,
of whom 100000 are PerSians, do not
regard representations Of animals as
unlawful. BY the industry of this sect
and that Of infidels and Of all who dis
regard the law of the Koran animal
forms are seen on some Persian rugs.
The prayer rug was evidently invent
ed for the purpose Of providing the
worshipers with one absolutely clean
place on which to offer prayers. 1t IS
not lawful for a Moslem to pray on any
place not perfectly clean, and unless
each one has his own special rug he Is
not certain that the spot has not been
polluted. With regard 10 the purity Of
the place of prayer Mohammedans are
specially careful when making their
pilgrimagcs. the rugs which they take
with them having been preserved from
pollution by being rolled up until the
Journey is begun or until the hour for
PRAYER arrives 1t does not matter to
these followers of MOhammed how
unclean a rug that is on the floor may
be, because over it they place the pray
cr rug when their deyotlons begin.
The Turkish rugs made at Sivas are
always woven of wool, and almost ev-
cry hamlet carries on the industry OF
weaving in the homes. There are no
factories, the young girls and women
doing the work here as in other parts
of Turkey. Sivas rugs are in most
cases small measuring about eight by
four feet, but in these years larger and
more attractive rugs are being made.
Even the poorest families have fine
rugs, for they regard them as valuable
property. to be sold only under the
pressure Of great extremity. The wcav-
Crs are so frugal in their manner OF
living that their daily earning Of 10 to
10 cents is sufficient to supply their
wants. Their food consists usually Of
rice and crushed wheat, with occasion
ally a small piece Of mutton.
Smyrna is only a mart for the sale
OF comparatively inferior rugs that are
made in the interior from the coarse
hair of the Angora goat. These are
woven in irregular designs and, al
though not artistic, are largely sought
as coverings for the bare floors and to
add warmth. The weaving of these
rugs is crudely done by girls and wo-
men. Sometimes the loom IS primitive
ly constructed from the trunks of trees.
The designs are very simple and have
either been handed down from earlier
generations or are supplied from the
city.
Yuruk rugs are so called from band
OF nomads who dwell among the noun
tains of Anatolia. They have large
fiocks Of fine sheep and weave rugs Of
firm, even texture. The colors are very
good the field often of dark brown, or
namented with large designs.
About 200 years ago small embroider-
ed rugs were largely made in Persia,
chiefly at Ispahan. These were prayer
rugs, and on each Of them, near one
end, was a small embroidered mark to
show where the bit of sacred earth
from Mecca was TO be placed. In Obe-
dience to a law Of the Koran that the
head must be bowed TO the ground in
prayer this was touched by the fore
head when the presentation was made,
and so the letter of the law was carried
out. The custom prevails. The Persian
women who weave the finest prayer
rugs seldom weave any other kind of
rug.-"Rugs, Oriental and Occidental"