Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-08-30
CURIOUS AND COSTLY CARPETS
Floor Coverings Of Historical Interest
Owned by Royalty.

OWneu Dy hOyAty'
A magnificent Persian carpet has just
been brought to England as a present
from the shah to the king. It is en-
tirely hand made, and its manufacture,
despite the number of workers employ
cd, took upward of three years to com
plete. II is of most artistic and intri-
cate design, into which the kings
name, Edward VII, was woven.
The palatial hall of the Goldsmiths
company, in Foster lane, contains three
costly carpets made at the factory at
Wilton, near Salisbury. Tho largest,
which is in tho court drawing room, and
measures forty feet two inches by
twenty six feet nine inches, is Of a rich
crimson, surrounding n center, ten feet
by nine feet, consisting Of the com
pany's arms in their heraldic coloring
Of bule, green, red and purple upon a
white ground, and inelosed in border
OF festooned roses with medallions at
each corner. In setting the pile Of this
carpet, which weighs about 1900
pounds, 5,5OO,OOO knots were, It is said,
used
Another company, that Of the Girdp
lers, possesses carpet which in historic
interest is probably unique. II was
manufactured In the reign of Charles 1
at the factory OF Akbar the Great at
Lahore to the order OF Robert Bell,
who in 1884 was the master OF the
company. The carpet, which Is twenty
four feet by seven feet six inches Is
worked with the company's crest and
arms and two bales OF merchandise, on
either side Of which are the donor .
arms, and two bales Of merchandise on
which are his initials and trade mark.
At the time Of the great FIRE this car
pet was saved from destruction, only to
fall upon Gothic age that regarded
ii as a mere covering and year by year
il grew more dirty and dilapidated.
From this scandalous neglect IL was res
eued few years since by some mem
bera Of the court more discriminating
that the majority, and after a thorough
renovation was placed in finely carv'
ed oak frame and hung above the high
table.
The prayer carpet on view at South
Kensington is a splendid specimen.
Measuring some S3 feet by 20 feet, II
was purchased at a cost Of sls,6OO,
chiefly through the instrumentality OF
the late William Morris, the poet, who,
with other gentlemen, gave a hand
some subscription for that purpose. II
came originally from the mosque at Ar
debil, for which 1t was made In the
year 946 Of the Hegira "a. ID. 64O) by
Maksoud of Kashan, fact which, TO-
gether with a pious maxim, is recorded
in words which are woven into the tex
ture of the carpet itself.
Two other magnificent carpets were
four years ago sold at the municipal
chamber al Lisbon 70 pay for repairs
at the royal convent Of ST. Antonio, to
which they had been given by the In
tanta Donna sanehe in 1900 For these
carpets, which are Of Persian manufae'
ture, IS feet square and embroidered
with gold, the bidding was very brisk
Starting at s4,4OO, Il rapidly rose 20
ss,54O, at which price the prize, at
$4,000 below It's real value, was Sc
cured by Frenchman. Public opinion,
however, was 90 greatly against the
sale that two other equally valuable
carpets, the property Of the Estrelia
convent, were Withdrawn.
A curious carpet has lately been
Manufactured at Caesarea. IL Is
representation Of the battle Of Ira
falgar, depicting that moment in the
engagement when Nelson received his
fatal wound. The carpet, which 10 en-
tirely Of silk, IL seven feet BY six feet,
and il took two girls fourteen months
70 weave d. II was cold for $1,000. An
other historical event, the reeaPture OF
Buda from the Turks, in 1883, was the
subject OF a carpet manufactured a. the
Bsauvais factory established In 1864 for
Nine. de Maintenon, wife Of Louis
XIV.
some Of the carpets in the possession
Of eastern potentates are Of similar
maeniacsnee and valns. In the great
exhibition Of 1851 an elaborate cash
mere carpet vas shown By the hahaIa-
iah 0oolah Singh. Il was composed
sntirely Of Gilk Tit-Bits