Greek rugs

Greek rugs are almost as ancient as Greece herself. Many an old love-song of this land has praised the skill of the woman deftly plying the hand loom. But if one expects to see the glory of ancient Greece, in its perfec­tion of form and design, transmitted in any degree to the industry of modern rug-weaving he will be disappointed.

From time immemorial rugs have constituted a most important part of the dowry of a young girl from the provinces. Even now the courting of a bride in Crete is often prefaced with the question whether the girl is skilled in the handling of a loom. But the modern Greek rug is seldom seen outside of its own country, for it is generally made for home use, and the weaver is not easily induced to part with it.

Besides this, the foreign market would not be large for them, especially in compe­tition with the well-known and excellent Oriental rugs.