The San Francisco call., 1910-12-11


are told to the initiated in their very design,
- and the passing of dynastes and the wreck
Of kingdoms are included in the chapters that they
tell
Is it. then any wonder that they hold fascination
which causes those of this western world to spend
millions of dollars acquire them, witness the
1narkable exhibition of these oriental fabrics in the
Metropolitan OF art, composed of products
of the ancient looms which their owners have per-
mitted be public view until January? Every
precious square there is permeated with half forgot
ten legends and traditions-every one conveys vol
umes in It's symbolism which translated would reveal
many wonders of the mystic east.
The public mind has been directed much recently
10 the oriental rugs for they have figured prominently
in the customs prosecutions of the government for
alleged differentiation and the story OF the ruby rug,
which was said by some experts to be worth many
times more than the for which it valued on
the consular invoice has been told
Whether rug be worth $1,000, as this sup
posed to be, or SlOOOOO which some merchan: in
thusiasm of admiration thought it might bring from
some interested American of great wealth and artistic
eanings has little 10 do with esthec and romantic
qualities OF these magic carpets from the eastern
lands
So great has become the enthusiasm of Americans
for eastern rugs, beginning with the Centennial
position OF 1876 that New York city, which is the
clearing house for these fabrics for the entire coun-
W
OF the department OF decorative in the
Metropolitan museum of art, be the greatest
Tor them known such centers Constantinople
and Paris taking second place.
When prosperity smiles on an American one of his
first ideas OF household adornment is rug which is
really worth while. Those whose purses unlimited
as far as buying rare textiles are concerned
paying thousands of dollars for products of the
cient looms.
Some of the stories which are connected with the
rugs arc more or less fancful but there is hardly
really great rug which is associated with deeds of
prowess, with acts of fanatical devotion with long
and dangerous pilgrimages over deserts infested by
marauding bands.
Men have been slain for the red ruby which was
the idols eye; tragedy reflected from the brillance
the Kohinoor and paintings of the great masters
OF the past have been stained with blood More beau
tful than rubics diamonds and expressing much
the greatest works of the artists of all time notable
oriental rugs are constantly being brought these
shores to find place in private gallery the
floor of parlor library in some city mansion.
MANY A MAGIC TALE
If the full history of some of the world famous
rugs could be known there would be stories replee
with mystery, intrigue and strange incident any of
taose that center about the fine gems of royal and
imperial collections. Rugs of themselves human
documents, from the life of their makers. Gus
toms, language religion, all the intimate of
the people have direct influence upon the making of
fine rug. The personal aspirations, hopes and char
acterstics of an individual or a small group of indi-
viduals are expressed in the harmony of color and
design. Frequently great rug has been the work of
three consecutive generations that have put their
thought into the fabric In almost all cases an orr
entail rug comes from home manufactured in the
same room where parents and children pass their
lives, the product of the family, born of their very
flesh and fruit of the best that is in them.
No dug the
and capable Of being resolved into chemical elements
could possess the fascination that is part of
fine rug. No treasure of inorganic derivation could
be surrounded with the close human interest that is
essentially part OF a rugs substance
Perhaps an unraveler of rug histories would find
oriental fabric that possesses as sinister past or
repelling origin the sacred rug of the Iowa
Indian tribe. This curiosity is said to be owned by
of the few survivors of the Iowas in Stroud Okla
1t is 80 years old and cost II lives 1t is about five
feet square and is woven of the hair from II scaps
in figures of black, white gray, brown and red. But
il is certain that il, by occult means one might
the dramas that have surrounded certain Turk
sh Persian and Indian rugs he could throw light upon
happenings dark with tragedy.
After being finished in the homes throughout the
rural c.slf.cs5 1g-ere they are woven on hand looms
by methods that have probably changed little since
the days OF Cyrus the rugs carried by their own
ers TO local markets bazaars, where they are Of
fered to merchants and dealers that swarm through
the country These in make up their bundles
and travel toward the larger marts, notably Smyrna
and Constantinople, where they meet the demand of
the outer world Often their ways lonely and
roundabout and they pass with their rug trains
through sections where they exposed the depre-
dations OF outlaws and bandits Attacks rug mer-
chants are of frequent occurrence in distant regions
and the buyer who has fortune in rugs in his keep