EXPENSIVE RUGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7731, 15 June 1903, Page 3

EXPENSIVE RUGS.

(Tit-Bits.)

What is said to be the most valuable rug in the world has just been sold by public auction, in New York. For many years it was in the possession of the late Mr Henry G. Marquand, the noted art collector, and when, a short time ago, the announcement was made; that this precious fabric would ba offered for sal© a thrill of excitement ran through the veins of the many collectors who had long coveted it. It has been called the King of all Royal Persian. Bugs, and its- history has been more than once written and published. The rug. is said to have been a gift from the Emperor of the Persias to the Emperor of the Turks, and was among the effects of the Sultan Abdul Aziz, of Turkey, at the time of his death. The colour and design, are alike remarkable. The groundwork of the centre is black, and on this axe medallions of wine-red, green and orange, while scattered over the sur r face are tiny natural flowers in glowing colours. y Inside the medallions arc birds and animals typical of the Moslem allegories. The size of the rug is eleven feet ten inches by sis feet one and a half inches. It was sold after exciting bidding for just £8000, a sum which would provide for thej'ug being covered with a blanket of £5 Bank of England notes three times over. The amount paid for this ancient fabric would, if placed out at 6 per cent interest,, bring in the very respectable income of £480 per annum. Or it would be sufficient to purchase A FAIR-SIZED HOUSE IN THE WEST END, or a mansion with a good few acres of ground in the country. The number of -knots in this remarkable example of Persian industry is 600 to tha square inch. Each knot, it is said, muse have taken, owing to the intricacy of the manner in which it is tied, both considerable time and care to accomplish, and a man of figures has computed that the mere tying of these minut3 knots would take a single individual, working twelve hours a day, some 260 years to accomplish. The work of weaving this wonderful rug, which, of course, was done entirely by hand, was handed down from family to family, and in the process of its manufacture probably scores of lfres were ' spent. The rug is badly worn in some places, so much so, in fact, that the pattern is cn r tirely obliterated. Efforts at some time or other were evidently made to restore it, traces of black silk being apparent, but this means of renovation was afterwards abandoned in favour of paint and brush. ; As in the case with nearly all genuine Persian rugs, there are various mottoes woven in this costly fabric. Along the border are two couplets,' which have been thus translated .:-— . O Sakil the zephyr of <tb« spring is blowing now; - . . The rose has 'become fresh and luxuriant. The drops of the dew are like pear'.® in the cuj> of the tulip, And the tulip unfolds its glorious flag. The rug was bought by Mr Benguiat, of New York, who was heard to say he was determined Jbo obtain it even if the cost amounted to £20,000. Other rugs in Mr Marquand's collection fetched between £3000 and £5000, some of the fabrics being quite tiny praying mats. It will, perhaps, be remembered that one of the three rugs used at the CorbnationTbf the King was sold for £6000, being purchased by Mr J. W. Ellsworth,- of' New York, while another was secured by Mr G. A. Baker* of the same city, for £450Qv *)