Oriental Rugs, Antique and Modern

Published in 1922, when Western appetite for Oriental rugs had reached a fever pitch and auction prices were making headlines, W. A. Hawley's guide offers a window into a pivotal moment in collecting history. This is not merely a catalog of weaves and patterns but an argument for treating these textiles as fine art. Hawley traces the weaving traditions of Persia, Asia Minor, and Central Asia, examining the technical mastery behind knot counts, natural dyes, and the regional artistic signatures that distinguish a Tabriz from a Turkoman. He contrasts Eastern and Western aesthetic sensibilities with the conviction that Western eyes needed cultivation to perceive the subtle poetry woven into these works. For modern readers, the book functions less as a practical buying guide and more as a time capsule: it captures an era when these carpets were being rediscovered by Western collectors, when their historical significance was being articulated, and when the craft traditions were still very much alive. Anyone curious about the origins of the rug-collecting passion that shaped museums and private collections worldwide will find this an illuminating, if occasionally dated, primer.