The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-11-26
Holbcrn Rug. Lent by c. F, Williams


upon the American collector Of fine but that has
become difficult with the coming OF more knowl
edge and wider acquaintance with these wonderful
fabrics of the East The counting of the knots. the
study the dyes the sharp search for any traces of
the detesIed anilinc constantly used by the anna
teur to prevent himself from being mised
Charles Z Yerkes who gathered one of the greatest
collections these textiles in this country and might
have attained the distinction OF having the finest
asSembage of this kind In the world spent thousands
of dollars In establishing evidences of authenticity.
He grew proficient In his later years In the lore ot
rugs that he seemed TO know instinctyey the merits
OF carpets and rugs and many hour did he spend
in gallery devoted especially to those fabrics watch
ing the play of colors upon them IL he
muning with the souls Of the past.
OF late years there has been growing interest
In the Chinese rugs of the fifteenth sixteenth and sew
entconth centuries which especially Interesting to
the collector account Of the rich and beautiful sym.
bollsm they convey.
Each figure conveys thought The bride received
rug IN which the insignia Of happiness
and peace and prosperity while great dgnitares OBJ
mincd fabrics In which by mystic designs were con-
yeyed the wishes for longevity and continued power
These rugs although rich In color most cases
as the Persian are highly esteemed by collectors
Remote regions of China are ransHcked rugs and
prices which bring out those which be obtained
offered which in time the scrupes OF the
owners in partIng with them Many a saddle cloth
which for years served It's purpose the plains OF
OF
Fifth avenue residence
The forty-nne rugs which arc now ON Wow In the
Metropolitan Museum of Art nearly all lent by
private
The compelling charm Of the tone and color Of tbe
so-caIed Polonaise rugs VIII appeal 10 all observers
no matter whether they have read deeply in tbo rner
manuals OF are without special knowledge of these
weavings
There always has been more or less Of a mystery
as TO the origin of the So-called Polish fabrics one
legend has 1t that certain Persian weavers driven to
the borders of Europe took up their abode near War
nnd there began the making of the textiles which
bear their names.
Or Valentincr now comes forward with an explana
tion which seems TO have n far greater weight Of
authority in its favor He declares that the name
Polonoise dates from tho Paris Exposition OF 1878
when several rugs of this type exhibited By
Prince Czartoriski from Warsaw, Some of these were
adorned with the prncey OF arms which had been
embroidered upon them at a later date The fact thai
there was nothing European In their design alway.
has made 1t dihcult 10 accept the story that In some
way the mokinG OF these rugs carried on by
natives of Poland or descendants of Per5ians there
In exile.
Some Famous Fabrics
1t Is now generally believed thnt the exquisitely
delicate fabrics made In Persia between the
years 1000 and 1000. and woven by n special
corps of weavers attached royal household and
sent by Shah AbbaS of Persia 10 FnroDeon courS
These rugs exceedingly rare and on account
OF thelr great beauty are In demand The
splendid specimens which TO be seen at the
museum are about three hundred years old could
Iney tel or their travels many story might they
relate of lives In palaces before they came into the
possession
1t IS stated that there are about three hundred Of
these iolish rugs In the world, The best examples
are preserved In the European courts such as those
or Moscow, Copenhagen. Stockholm and Munich and
other places where they have been carefully guarded
since tho seventeenth century
The visitor to the museum has a rare opportunity
In observing the wonderful harmony colors In
specimens The principal hues. all of which seem to
retain their pristine brancy. light blue. green
and remarkable shades OF orange and brown. which
are especially beautiful when 5he light falls at dt
leren angles upon the heavy slken pile of the fabrics
The museum Is Indebted for the loan of the
called Poonalse rugs to Senator William a. Clark,
MIS- Il Altman, General Brayton Ives, Dr. Denm1n
w. Ross and Mr.. L. A. h. WIdcner
There are also to be in this loan collection
rugs OF ISpahan, called because fabrics OF this fine
texture aud beautiful COlOrnG carried there 10
the market. although matter of fact rugs were
made there at all IN the period TO which these fabrics
are assigned. The name Herat is now preferably aP
piled TO them They date from the sixteenth century
and are distinguished by beauty or design and mellow
ness OF tone
The museum Is so fortunate own one OF tbs
animal rugs from the Ardebl Mosque which it
luired by purchase when the Charles f Yerkes co..
lection was sold and also large Persian hunting rus
30 called because bears figures the sports of tbs
,hGSe.
There two rugs lent by Mr. C. f. Williams
which are designated as he HobeIn rugs becauss
ugs OF precisely this pattern or very like It appear
Is table covers Ia paintings by the great Dutch aruSl
they arc OF ancient Oriental origin undoubtedly, buI
hey going down history designated by the name
If European painter.
Those who have lent their rugs to the museum fo'
ILLS exhibition are Mr. Benjamin Altman, OF NeT
Iork; senator w, y. Clark also OF this city aS'
lontana' Mr. Theodore NJ. Davis OF Newport; GeS
lhenny, OF Philadelphia; Mr. F. NJ Sharpless of WestI
hester, Pa; Mr. p. A. B. WIdener OF ElbiuS PafS
"a Mr C. +. Williams, of NorrlStown Pa aud t1e
'ostou Museum OF Fine Arts