JEWISH CARPETS
The Textile History of a People
by Anton Felton

This article looks into some of the characteristics and peculiarities of carpets knotted by the Jewish people. The history of these rugs goes back some four thousand years, providing a unique and powerful insight into Jewish culture through the centuries until today. The study of Jewish carpets takes us far further back in time and far further afield in place than does the study of the carpets of any other culture. That these carpets have little or no geographical or material unity does not negate the unity of their imagery, inscriptions and purposes and therefore of their significance as an expression of the Jewish experience. Jewish carpets are cultural chronicles...

This is the second part of Mr Herrmann's most recent study on geometry in textile art. In this issue he looks into the application of this theory on oriental carpets by looking at the geometric principles behind abrash, lazy lines, designs and motifs.

The theory presented in Ghereh 11 pp.7-25, can now be applied to carpet art. In addition to the statistical results showing carpets or their inner fields defined by the triangles mentioned, no matter how they might be interpreted, many phenomena within carpet designs or layouts can now be explained by this underlying geometry. Abrash. This is a colour change or variation of a colour within a solid colour area in the field. It seems inconceivable that generations of weavers made the same mistake, time and again, of not being able to prepare the amount of dyed wool required for a certain area within the carpet. The application of the geometry mentioned makes clear that these colour changes define break lines or separation lines and were mostly...

Viennese enthusiasm for the oriental carpets and textiles presented at the Exhibition of 1873 is analysed by the author, who looks into the market forces at work and reflects on the future of the carpet trade. In 1873, the Fifth World Exhibition was held in Vienna. The previous exhibition in London and Paris (1867) clearly indicated what was expected of the event at the time. At this point in history, with none of the media network which exists today, each European country recognised the necessity and importance of this platform. The dimensions of such exhibitions truly deserved the title World Exhibition as they offered a wealth of information about each participating country. There was considerable pressure for industry to develop new markets and find new trade partners...