No great attempt is made here to discuss the Oriental rug problem, as there are many books and histories which are very valuable to those who wish to familiarize themselves with this subject.

The history of the Oriental rug is something that has never been fathomed, particularly in regard to the original makers. History makes little difference to some people, at least, and to them an Oriental rug is an Oriental rug. They can not tell which are the best grades, or where they are made. They attend the auction sale of Oriental rug dealers and buy rugs under artificial lights, at almost any price, as these sales are usually hurried, and purchasers are forced to act quickly.

Of all gold brick schemes, the Oriental rug business is the foremost. These rugs have been sold all over the world; not because of their real value, but because of their fictitious history. The stock of two rugs may be very similar, but because one has an interesting story connected with it, it will bring four or five times as much as the one which has no story.

Classifications

Oriental rugs are divided into five classes - Turkish, Persian, Caucasian, Turkestan and Indian. Under each of these divisions come the various makes which are so-called because of the location of the places where they are made, and consequently one must give this branch of home furnishings careful study before buying, and then it is important to pur-chase of some one who is reliable.

Pleasure Resort Purchases

Beware of Oriental rugs sold at pleasure resorts. If you want value received, it is not likely to be found there. In this connection it is well to relate just one instance that occurred while the writer was in the business. An acquaintance came in about Christmas time, bringing three mercerized couch covers of beautiful Oriental designs, size six by nine feet, and asked that they be sold for him. He was asked what he wanted for them, and he said he would sell the three for $100, just what he paid for them. It developed that he had purchased these at a pleasure resort and thought he was getting genuine Oriental rugs, and didn't discover his mistake until some time later.

An inexperienced purchaser may he very easily taken in on a deal of this kind, especially when on a trip, where such things are found on sale. These couch covers, such as mentioned above, are made in this country and retail for $15 or $18 each. Novelties of any sort may bring fabulous prices anywhere, and especially at pleasure resorts, but it makes no difference what you find for sale at these places it is pretty safe to say that the asked price is not represented by quality.

Auction Sales

Good Oriental rugs are sent by collectors to this country in bales, each bale containing several good and several cheap ones. The bale is bought as a whole. The rugs are separated, and the best rugs sell for fancy prices, while the poorer grade rugs of the bale do not sell readily, consequently the "fake auction." This affords the quickest way of coming in contact with the inexperienced buyers, who think they are getting the real thing at a great bargain.

The auctioneer usually has a couple of men with him to help to take care of the rugs when shipping and repacking, etc., as Oriental rugs are very heavy and hard to handle. The rugs are usually shown under bright lights, which show them off to the best advantage. While the auction is in progress some of these helpers are used as fake bidders, and when a really valuable rug is offered at a ridiculously low price one of these fake bidders buys it in. If one were to attend these sales several days in succession one would, no doubt, find the same rug sold several different times. It is turned back each time to be sold again. The rugs that are bought by the bona fide buyers turn out to be cheap goods procured at fancy prices.