About Chinese rugs

It  may  readily  be  seen,  as  has been demonstrated,   that   designs   in   rugs admit of entirely different   classifica-'on from that of the fabrics themselves.   

Only when both weaving and design are studied to¬gether is substantial evidence acquired that will corroborate all theories in regard to the time and place of manufacture, for the same designs were used by weavers who lived centu¬ries apart.

The effect of time and age on materials and colors must be noted before classing any fabric as antique, however old the design may be. In adopting five periods as indicative of five great styles in Chinese weavings, the Tiffany Studios have so grouped the rugs in their collection that they may illustrate the theories advanced, which are based upon careful analysis and comparison.

The spelling of Chinese words adopted by the Tiffany Studios in the naming and classi¬fication of rugs is as far as possible that used by distinguished scholars who have written in English of things Chinese.

When such authorities differ, choice has been made of words as they have been most commonly employed by collectors.

Starred numbers in the text refer to rugs illustrated in the plates; unstarred numbers, to other rugs in the Tiffany Studios Collection.