Antique Chinese rugs

The nature of the hair in Chinese rugs varies. Camel's hair is easily recog-nized, both in superior and inferior grades.

There is a softness and spring to the hairs, and, under a strong glass, variations in their size are noticeable.

Many Chinese rugs are made of a coarse hair which resem¬bles cow's hair. These are generally known as Yak rugs in the Occident and are readily distinguishable, whatever animal actually yielded the hair used in their manufacture.

The use to-day of certain materials leads to the inference that the same were used in the past.

This conclusion is useful as it enables one to classify the rugs to-day in collections either public or private.