Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-01
S|LkEN RUG HAS
INTERESTING STORY.
Valued at $500, il Attracts
Throngs About Keith
0'Brien'S Windows.

This Is the only silk rug on the mar
Eet that bas the old Persian design
or the kFman rugs. 10 looks as II II
were 200 to $50 years old. II was
made In Kirman. can those Of Persian
make now on the market are made III
Tabrz)
This IL the story Of carpet that
is doing its best to turn the heads OF
one-h half OF the citizens OF Salt Lake
The rug Is not merely a handsome
weave hung In store window, nor
one OF those pieces Of art which at
tract attention only because OF its
great price. It's value being $500. And
the valuation represents but small
portion OF the vast sums which az d.
Vers times have passed hands through
its purchase. Valuation has risen and
fallen, according to the estimate OF the
holder Like its sister rug in the pos
session OF ]. Plerpont Morgan, 1t has
sold for more than three times It's
present price and very likely will again
command a fortune.
lis history Is as interesting as II IL
checkered. Struggle, tragedy, lluga-
ton, keenest JOY upon possession, marx
few of the Incidents appertainlng TO
It's career. II has travelled. Former
owners include royalty and wealth,
while IL has even been parted with be-
cause of encountered circumstances
Valuation has accordingly fiuctuated
throughout the vlcissitudes which have
crowded into it's life. The rug today
Is more beautiful than when the light
first fell upon its completion. From
out the dark past rolling years have
softened the sllken threads and mel
lowed the gorgeous blending of the var
igated shades and changabe hues.
The lives OF two royal weayers are
woven into its body, they having de-
voted their lifetimes to II, but this
does not cause the thrill 1t Is the
unconscious influence which Il exer-
Cises over one who beholds 1t for the
first time, Deyotees say It is because
OF the wonderful design; the quiverlng
mass OF colors, blending so harmonious
~ as TO shoulder with life the ever
changing hues that come and go like
the colors Of rainbow IN fountains
spray, or like the scintlllatiOns Of the
KohlnoOr The peculiar blue and red
in the design are lost colors In art,
and nc longer capable OF reproduction.
The rug is of pure silk TO the last
thread. monument to Persian art 1t
seems TO be nothing less than paint
ing from one Of the old masters, and
IN the blend OF colors which are to be
seen only upon the canvas OF an in
spred artist,
II is little wonder that connolsseurs
go into raptuTes upon viewing this sa-
cred and valuable gem Visitors linger
before II by the hour, and experts de-
clare that II Is the handsomest carpet
now in America. one Eastern million
alre who saw the carpet declares II 10
be fully equal to the magnificent speci-
men secured by ]. Pierpont Morgan at
an expense of S25 600, excepting that
the latter rug Is slightly larger The
owner says that the sacred emblems,
wrought In the borders. the
tree OF life woven In It's corners, and
the sacred character of its birth have
much to do with the influence OF the
fabric upon all who behold 1t.
This masterpiece, according to the
official reports from Persia, Is the i'm
peridl throne rug woven for Shah Ma
dir who was Shah of Persia in the Sew
century. II has had many
owners In Its time, but has finally been
acquired by Paul $, ourfalian, impor-
ter Of specimens OF Oriental art. 1t
has been In his possession but a short
time, but its reputation has spread and
many local connOisseurs have gazed
upon the treasure. It's dimensions are
12x9 feet. This magnificent rug is now
on view in one Of Keith-O' Briens win.
dows.