Chinese rugs: colors used

A very dark brown that is sometimes found in Chinese rugs is of so corrosive a nature that the wool dyed with it is often entirely gone from rugs in which the wools of every other color are in perfect con­dition.

We only occasionally find an old Chinese rug in which this peculiar shade of dark brown shows no wear whatever, and on examiuation the material proves to be of natural color and a blackish brown wool or hair.

Such are without doubt the original color and material used, of which the brown, dyed with corrosive dye, is a copy.

Colors found in existing antique specimens to-day are invaluable as guides to the study of the color scheme thought out by old weavers. Some of these shades accidentally obtained have never been equalled by the inten­tional mingling of colors, and have different values, according to the materials to which they are applied.

There is how­ever enough likeness between rugs of silk and those of wool of any period to make it possible to place them together, though the shades of color vary somewhat.