318 CAKPET MANUFACTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



use. The price is necessarily very high. The chief of the merchants 

 of Teheran told me of one he had seen over a tombj it was barely two 

 square yards in size 5 but he said that 200 tomans or $360 would be a 

 low price for it. 



Regarding the ruling prices of Persian carpets it is impossible to give 

 more than approximate estimates. Such matters as standard values 

 hardly exist in Persia. The individuality of each rug adds to the diffi- 

 culty. Goods are sold for what they will bring. One day a merchant 

 sells an article at a loss; the next day, perhaps, a lucky customer will 

 give him a handsome profit for a similar article. He averages the profit 

 and loss, and, if shrewd, by the end of the year manages to have the 

 balance in his favor. But small profits are the rule, and such a thing 

 as a fixed price is utterly unheard of. 



Members of old or prominent families are often obliged to realize on 

 carpets or embroideries or other articles, which are both rare and costly. 

 They intrust these articles to a dellab or peddler to sell on commission. 

 In such cases articles worth 100 tomans are often sold for 30 to 40 tomans. 

 As a large part of the trade in the cities is doue by the dellas this natur- 

 ally has a tendency to keep down prices. 



The carpets ordered and sold by the Ziegler Company follow more 

 uniform rates; but in all other cases it is impossible to affirm that one 

 can ascertain more than the probable market value of Persian carpets 

 and rugs in Persia. It may be stated, however, that a buyer experienced 

 in Oriental ways can purchase good rugs in Persia at such rates as to 

 leave a fair margin for good profits in America over and above the cost, 

 transportation and duties included. 



The European demand for old Persian carpets has so far fallen off as 

 to leave but a poor market for those which are much worn or decayed. 

 But there seems to be an increasing demand on the part of connoisseurs 

 and amateurs for the better grades of well preserved antique rugs of 

 Persia. Their artistic qualities are so undeniable that they must al- 

 ways be in fashion for almost every class of household decoration, while 

 their texture and durability well suits them to impart an air of comfort 

 to interiors. 



S. G. W BENJAMIN, 



Consul- General, 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE:GENEBAL, 



Teheran, A.pril 29, 1884. 



