PREVAILING COLORS.--Quiet tints of red, blue, yellow, and salmon, with considerable white.
DESIGNS.--Quite similar to those of the Daghestan and Kabistan, but more inclined to imitate the Persian designs without the connecting vine or meander effect and inclined to be rather large in proportion to the size of the rug. The tarantula, the swastika, the link, the S form, and the palace patterns are commonly employed.
[Illustration: SHIRVAN RUG Size 5'6" × 3'6" PROPERTY OF DR. E. B. GUILE, UTICA, N. Y.]
SIZES.--From three to five by four to seven feet. No carpet sizes.
PRICES.--Among the cheapest of the Caucasian products. From $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot.
with accompanying description at pages 158 and 250.
OWNER'S DESCRIPTION.--Unusually fine for Shirvan. This rug is in the century class. The three borders are not often seen, but are characteristic of the older rugs of the Daghestan district. The glory of this rug is in the marvelous centre. At first sight one might think of the famous "rose" Kirmans. The treatment of the roses, lilies, peonies, etc., merit more than a passing glance. No weaver could possibly show greater fidelity to nature in the shading of leaf and petal than did the now forgotten factor of this unusual rug. The erosion of time has given the surface an appearance of brocade velvet. Casual examination would indicate a green background, but in reality it is black, the profusion of green being an intricate and realistic arrangement of leaves.
SYNONYMS.--Guenja, Guendja, Guenges, Turkman.
WHY SO NAMED.--Authorities differ greatly as to the origin of the name. Some say that the proper name should be Guenja, which was the ancient name of Elizabethpol, from whence they came. Others insist they should be called Genghis, which is the name of the tribe of Nomads living in the vicinity of Elizabethpol who weave them.
KNOT.--Ghiordes. Number vertically six to ten; number horizontally five to eight; number to square inch thirty to eighty.
WARP.--A three-strand thread of brown wool or goats' hair.
WOOF.--Gray or brown wool, frequently dyed. Generally several woof threads between each row of knots.
NAP.--Usually rather long wool or goats' hair. Of a much finer quality in the antiques.