Posted by Marvin Amstey on December 29, 1998 at 18:14:06:
In 1913 Walter Hawley published his "Oriental Rugs: Antique and Modern" in which he included tables of the construction characterstics of Persian rugs. His description which I will list here is very similar to Daniel's and Michael's:
knot: Ghiordes. 7-8 x 8-12
Warp: wool, flat back; rarely depressed warp
Weft: wool, one shoot crossing twice (unfortunately there is no mention of color)
Sides: selvedge
Lower End: web or fringe
Upper End: same with web uncommonly turned under
Nap: medium
Weave: medium-coarse
Texture: medium-loose.
He also describes excellent wool quality with rich dark colors, typically deep reds and blues. "The drawing sometimes represents flowering plants, such as the rose bush, arranged in perpendicular rows and brightened by tints of white green, or yellow. Detached flowers not infrequently line the edges of the field. The wide borders also, as a rule have vines and floral forms." He gives as the usual length 6-7 feet with the width 40-60% of the length. This seems to fit most of the rugs Daniel has illustrated. Marvin