The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-30
CURIOUS AND COSTLY CARPETS.
Some OF Those Owned by Royalty OF His
., toricai Interest.
From I'ii-Bi

A magnificent Persian carpet has just
been brought to England as present from
the Shah to the King. It la entirely hand
made. and It's manufacture. despite the num-
Der Of workers employed. took upward OF
three years to complete. 1t IL OF most artistic
and Intricate design. into which the Kings
name. Edward VII. is woven.
F, The palatial hall Of the Godsmiths Com
pany. in Foster lane. contains three costly
carpets made at the factory at Wilton, near
Salisbury. The largest. which is in the
court drawing room. and measures 40 feet
inches by 70 feet o inches. Is OF a rich crimson,
surrounding a center. 10 feet by feet. con-
sistng Of the company's arms in their heraldic
coloring Of blue. green. red and purple upon
q white ground. and enclosed in border OF
festoOned roses with medallions at each cor
ner. In setting the pile of this carpet. which
weighs about 1900 pounds. over $500. OOO
knots were. II Is said. used.
Another company, that OF the Girdlers.
possesses q carpet which in historic interest
il probably unique 1t WAS manufactured
In the reign of Charles |. at the factory OF
Akbar the Great at Lahore. TO the order Of
Robert Bell. who In 1894 was the master Of
the company The carpet. which is "a feet
by feet 9 inches. Is worked with the COM
pany's crest and arms and two bales of mer-
chandise. on either side OF which are the
uOnOT aTH1s, hHQ TWO UHles OF Inercndnuise OIL
which are his initials and trademark.
Al the time OF the Great Fire this carpet
yes saved from destruction. only to fall upon
q Gothic age that regarded it as a mere floor
covering. and year by year II grew more
dirty and dilapidated From this scandalous
neglect 1t was rescued a few years since by
some members Of the court more discriminate
ing than the majority. and after thorou gh
renovation was placed In finely carved oak
frame and hung above the high table.
The prayer carpet on view at South Ken
sIngton Ia q splendid specimen, Measuring
some 81 feet by 20 feet. it was purchased a,
q cost OF G25OO. chiefly through the instru.
mentality OF the late william Morris. the
poet, who. with other gentlemen, gave q
handsome subscription for that purpose. II
came originally from the mosque at Ardebil
for which II was made In the year 948 OF the
Hegira "a. d. 640J by Maksoud OF Kashan
= fact which. together with pious maxim
ia recorded in words which are woven into the
texture Of the carpet itself.
Two other magnificent carpets were four
years ago sold at the Municipal Chamber
at Lisbon to pay for repairs at the Royal
Convent Of st. Antonio. to which they had
been given by the Infanta Donna Sanchs
in 1900. For these carpets. which are OF
Persian manufacture. Is feet square and
embroidered with gold. the bidding was
very brisk. Starting at fsss. il rapidly rose
to e.. 7Os. at which price the prize. at 81 .ON
below its real value Was secured by French
man Public opinion. however. was no
greatly against the sale that two other equally
valuable carpets, the property OF the Es-
trella Convent were withdrawn
A curious carpet has lately been manu-
featured at Cesarea, 1t is a representa-
ton OF the battle Of Trafalgar depicting
that moment In the engagement when Nell
son received his fatal wound. The carpet
which s entirely OF silk. ia 7 feet by feet, nd
Il took two girls fourteen months to weave
it, 1t was sold for f4OO. Another historical
event. the recapture OF Buda from the Turks
In 1853, was the subject Of carpet manu-.
featured at the Beauvais factory established
IN 1904 for Nine. de Maintenon. wife OF
Louis XIV.
Some OF the carpets In the possession OF
Eastern potentates are OF similar magnih-
cence and value. In the great exhibition OF
1851 an elaborate cashmere carpet was shown
by the Maharajah Goolab Singh. II was
composed entirely Of silk. and every square
foot contained no fewer than 10000 knots.