The following quote caught my eye .....

" ... the accepted notion that hidden skills and formulas are in possession of the guilds--which have been handed down to them by bygone generations of dead dyers--is fabulous, however picturesque. For their skills and formulas are known. Indeed, a second-year student of dying on any Western college possesses wider and clearer notions of the matter than the most noted member of any of the guild of dyers."

I cannot recall the last time I have been so offended by a passage of writing, nor noticed such a frightening example of the sterility of our own times and culture, as this passage. Some kid at a college class knows more than someone spending their entire life at an almost mystical craft. Sure, chemically this may be true. But what of the magic, the soul and mystery? This is exactly what is killing the culture of the West today. They have no conception of this. So I guess by this analogy, the second year college student at typing is more adept than Shakespeare, Hafez, or Cicero because he possesses a greater technology of execution of his words. And the biology student more adept at love and romance than those in love and swept away on February 14th. I would have thought by now that we understood the effects of soulless mechanism upon the human creature. But, I guess not. (Sorry for the screed.)

geez, where did you see this article? >>>>


It's a quotation by A.C. Edwards from his 1953 volume "The Persian Carpet" and listed as "cogently noted" in the chapter on dyes in the large volume by Eiland and Eiland The Complete Guide to Oriental Carpets. And I must say, it has soured me instantly on the book, a hefty coffee table piece that promised otherwise to be so pleasing and valuable.

Is that verbatim or was there text in between the quotes omitted? >>>>


No, the quote was verbatim, from quotation marks to quotation marks and everything in betewen. However, to me is smacks of the worst sort of 19th century Orientalism. The "harvesting" mentality of certain authors and travelers who then became collectors and then looked down on the very cultures who produced the works as they attempted to comandeer the industry and its products. This is common in the west with all sorts of cultural produce, even ideas, religion, everything. Don't get me started.

pick and choose the other parts of the book that may be of help or otherwise enjoyable>>>

Oh yes, of course. I just bristle when I encounter it. It hasn't changed you know, it's just now hidden behind a veneer of what's called "PC."

As I say, the book the quotation was from was published in 1953, the book I am reading that contained the quotation was published in 1973 and reprinted several times. This edition claims to be updated. It seems to have a great deal of information, diagrams, illustrations, as well as a lot of fine rug photos. And it may just be a telltale residue. But I bristled all the same.