But all this aside, it is still worthy of note and should never be forgotten in the study of Chinese rugs, that whatever and wherever they borrow they are still Chinese. In this rug (Plate II) there is one concession to the Persian habit, which might better have been omitted for the sake of decorative purity; namely, the conversion of the narrow inner “water” stripes into corner ornaments. Not that the shapes thus obtained are Persian in their character. They are not. On the contrary, they suggest the conventional corner dragons in the oldest Ming rugs, of which a superb example is found in Plate VI. But the manner in which they are brought out is more that of the heavy Chinese teak wood carving, which plays so large a part in the interior decoration of China down to the present day. They add an element of strength to the design; but they distinctly “do not belong,” and constitute therefore an inharmonious factor when considered in the light of cold analysis. None the less, with its superb coloring, the rug is far more beautiful than most that come out of China in these days of rug decadence.
PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR, VOL. 4, No. 2, SERIAL No. 102 COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION, INC.
Monograph Number Three in The Mentor Reading Course
Eighty hand-tied knots to the square inch.
In point of actual age, this very unusual rug is perhaps the youngest of all the six pieces selected for color reproduction with this number of The Mentor. The general observations that have been made regarding the distinguishing characters of the various periods will be forcibly illustrated by comparing this rug with Plate VI, which represents one of the earliest fabrics. The difference between them, from the standpoint of simplicity in design, is decidedly marked, and constitutes an entire lesson on the course of Chinese art. Reserving comment on Plate VI for its proper place, it is interesting to note some of the features of the round rug. Its elaboration must be emphasized first of all. No effort of which the maker was capable has been spared in the purpose to make this a carpet of note. Its shape alone is sufficient proof of this. The circular rugs, whether Chinese or Persian, are extremely rare. The only other one of great importance is an early Ming piece owned by a gentleman living in New York City.