Bird Ushak carpet. Victoria and Albert Museum, No. 134

Acquired in 1884. 6 feet x 3 feet 9 inches (1.83m x 1.14m).
Warp.—Two-ply brownish-white wool; 17 to one inch; on one level.
Weft.—Brownish-white wool; two shoots after each row of knots.
Knots.—Wool; Ghiordes type; 10 to one inch; 90 to the square inch.
Colours.—Eight. White, now deep in tone (field and both borders); medium red; ochre; green; yellow; blue; light red; black.

Few early rugs have a white ground, and those that are known generally differ in design as well as in colour from the more common Asia Minor pieces. As far, however, as the method of knotting is concerned and the quality of each colour, apart from the proportion in which it is used, the correspondence of the white rugs with the others is perfect. In the white rugs, instead of a number of panels occupying the field, there is as a rule a small repeated diaper, and if a central medallion is intro¬duced, it is not made large or conspicuous. In the present rug the twisted figures that in conjunction with rosettes form the diaper; they may be an angular rendering of the well- known S-form, or possibly they are merely conventionalised leaves.

The pattern in the main border-stripe consists of cloud-bands, rosettes and floral stems. It is a common one at this period, and may be seen in two other carpets at the Museum (Nos. 132 and 138) associated with very different types of field-design.