The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-04
REMARkA1LE RtGS LENT TO
METKOs'OLgTAN !Mt Scum.

REM RIGS LENT T0
METKOPOLgTAN MUSEUM.
In shs exhibition os rugs ju-s opened
at the Metropolitan Museum Ira tho gal
,ery which wan known last year a. the
Whistler room. In the new Wing Z, there
10 a fascinating exhibit OF the Oriental
weaver's art OF ancient times. and an
opportunity for the study OF that art
which I. can scsroely in the nature os
things be hoped will often recur In such
compact and comprehensive form in this
city. The museum itself cannot put
forward such a showing OF these beauti-
full wsaves except when IL 10 able. as In
the present instance. 10 draw upon the
hberality Of private owners No loan
exhibition. under other auspices would
be likely to find such examples obtainable.
owing not only to the hazards OF gen
eral exhibition. hut also to the natural
unwillingness OF owners to part with
these rare fabrics even for time, The
museum has made the most OF it's oppor-
tunity to offer to the public expert guild
ance TO the exhibition by publishing a
special catalogue prepared by DR.. W. X.
Valentiner. the curator OF decorative
art. The exhibition at the same time
brings TO attention what Is not fully un-
derstood. the remarkable richness OF
private collections in this country in
these expressions OF the genius Of the
near East. OF the centuries from the four
teenth to the eighteenth these appurte-
nances OF Old World palaces.
The exhibition in connection with it's
catalogue contains surprises for many
admirers Of the rugs Of the Orient. On
the ono hand they will he glad TO learn
what DR.. Valentiner tells them Of the
Attributions Of Persian. Indian and Polish
rugs. and on the other they will he induced
to removed study il they can bring them
selves into agreeEsent with him. Those
jewels OF the door the resplendent Polo :
naisss. whose charm has not been less
ened by what was heretofore deemed the
mystery Of their origin. DR.. valsntiner
puts down fatty as Persian work probably
from the imperial factories. and declares
that they were made during the first half
OF the seventeenth century. Against
this some students Of carpets set their
judgment that the stitch. II the word may
he used here. the form OF weaving. par
ticularly with the metal threads. is mark
eddy different from the familiar form used
by the Persian weavers Of that day.
DR.. yalentiner. however. says that
documents have recently come to light
showing conclusively that these rugs
were not made in Poland. He says that
the period OF their manufacture can he
almost exactly dated between 1000 and
1850. as rugs Of that type were sent a.
gifts from Shah Abbas Of Persia TO Euro
pean courts during that time. He has
a further dash OF cool water for some Of
the collectors who have believed and
some OF the dealers who have declared
that there we're scarcely more than fifty
or hundred at the most OF these rugs
in existence; for he says that they exist
in large numbers. certainly not less than
500 They are To be found. he says.
largely in royal palaces Of Europe; notably
in Moscow. Stockholm. Copenhagen and
Munich. where they have baen preserved
in excellent condition since the seven
tenth century. Although the exhibition
has but Just opened. these statements
by DR.. Valentiner have greatly Interested
collectors and students Of the rug.
IL occasions no special surprise To M,
told that certain rugs ~ fifteenth century
manufacture got their appellation " Hol-
helm rugs because one Of them figures in
that painters Darmstadt masterpiece.
But different key Ia struck when DR.
yalentiner gives his simple explanation
Of the origin Of the term Poonaise a.
applied TO these rugs and assigns II TO a
misconception AZ 50 recent IA fInct ion as
the Paris exposit ion If 1878. Several 81
the rugs were exhibited there. and the
name the whole ciaes is now known by
arose. he says. from the circumstance
tha: they bore the coat of rms II the fam
ily ~ the exhibitor. Prince Czartori-ki II
Warsaw. though this had been em broid-
cred az a later date than tn. manufacture
Of the rugs
rug much b.ttsr known and more
in America than the now so
called Polish ia the Ispahan. and DR.
Yalantin.r also attributes this rug To
another place Of origin. namely Herar
SO besidss the new de=ignat ion -=o-ca!lad
Polish AT the Met ropoli,an We now have
the -so-call@d Ispahan." Some Of the
amateurs reply in support Of
their long recognized position that the
Persian court travelled and that the royal
rug weavar- moved with the court. They
sriy applicable than lspahan a. final
designation of these fabrics: hut the au-
thority with which DR.. Nalentiner speaks
il bound 10 give new direction to the
Of these subjects. He also
carries some Persian rugs over To India
and explains his position with wealth
Of detail from a minute and comprehen-
sive study Of design.
In the forty nine rugs in the exhibition
the rich beauty Of color the intricate
design and the symbolism Of the patient
a rti sans Of the loom during IN. centuries
Of their greatness offer an abundance. Of
interest to the student and the casual
admirer alike. IL had been expected that
there would be fifty rugs shown. but at
the last moment the Kaiser Friedrich
Museum Of Berlin announced that per-
mission had been refused il To- lend
a rug which it had promised. tn. four
tesnth century fabric with tn. Ming
coat Of arms one ~ the oldest rugs
known 60 exist. Other rugs belonging
~ fhis class howayar are in the exhibi-