The Top Fifty Oriental Rug Books

In 1999 Dennis Marquand was asked to submit a list of the top 50 oriental rug books published. Many of these titles have earlier or later printings and bindings. GWO refers to the reference number in George O'Bannon's Oriental Rugs, A Bibliography

Over the next few weeks we will be revisiting and adding important titles that have been published in the 15 years since this list was compiled.

The Top Fifty Oriental Rug Books
Subjectively Submitted by Dennis B. Marquand

General        
 Eiland, Murray L. Jr and Murray Eiland III Oriental Carpets: A Complete Guide Lawrence King London 1998 330 color plates  15 maps  20 diagrams 294 pp. Revised (4th ed.) updated classic with all color plates.

 Ford, P.J.R. The Oriental Carpet: A History and Guide to Traditional Motifs, Patterns and Symbols Harry N. Abrams New York 1981 400 color plates, 400 black and white 352 pp. GWO 401.  Approaches rugs from design characteristics instead of country of origin. First edition.

 Hawley, Walter A. Oriental Rugs, Antique and Modern John Lane New York 1913 11 color plates, 71 black and white, charts, maps 320 pp. GWO 516. First edition of this American classic.
 Mumford, John Kimberly Oriental Rugs New York 1981 16 Color Plates, 16 Black and White 282 pp. GWO 828. Early American classic. Reprint of the 4th edition (1929).

 O'Bannon, George Oriental Rugs: The Collector's Guide to Selecting, Identifying, and Enjoying New and Vintage Oriental Rugs The Apple Press London 1995 150 color plates 80 pp. Excellent general book and not only because some of the rugs shown are from the Marquand collection.

 Thompson, Jon Oriental Carpets From the Tents, Cottages, and Workshops of Asia Dutton Studio Books New York 1993 114 color plates 176 pp. GWO 1059.  American edition of the ICOC IV exhibition.  Similar to the 1983 UK edition "Carpet Magic". Jon Thompson's guide to the world of rugs and carpets received enthusiastic acclaim from general readers and students alike as the best introduction to the subject yet published. By discussing carpets in the context of the people who weave them, the book makes this complex and often jargon-ridden subject easily accessible.
   

Historical        
 Erdmann, Kurt Seven Hundred Years of Oriental Carpets University of California Press Berkeley/London 1970 20 color plates, 286 black and white 238 pp. GWO 375-376.  A major contribution to the literature. A compilation of the author's articles on collections, groups and types.

 Grote-Hasenbalg, Werner Der Orientteppich. Seine Geschichte und seine Kultur. 3 Volumes. [The oriental carpet. Its history and its culture] Scarabäus Berlin 1922 139 color plates 430 pp. GWO 479.  Massive and beautiful three volume set of this early and important work on Oriental carpets. One volume of text and two of color plates. German text.

 Pope, Arthur U. A Survey of Persian Art: Carpets (Volume VIa and XII) SOPA Ashiya 1964 (1981) 62 color plates, 102 black and white, 52 black and white illustrations 208 pp. GWO 2109 and 2111.  Two volumes (1. Text, 2. Plates) on 15th-17th century classic Persian carpets.

 Sarre, Friedrich, and Hermann Trenkwald Alt-orientalische Teppiche: herausgegeben vom Osterreichischen Museum für Kunst und Industrie Anton Schroll; Leipzig: Karl W. Hiersemann Vienna 1926-28   GWO 988. First edition of one of the great and important rug books in 2 volumes. (21, [2], 60 plates of which 3 double and 35 color; 43, [1] p., 60 plates, of which 4 double and 32 color); Based on the Museum's previous publications Orientalische Teppiche (1892) and Altorientalische Teppiche (1908). Plates interleaved with descriptive texts. Black and white plates are collotypes, color plates mostly collotypes with 11 halftones.
   

Central Asian       
 Boucher, Jeff W. Baluchi Woven Treasures Jeff W. Boucher London 1989 63 color plates 152 pp. GWO 1534.  First edition of this important Belouch carpet reference. Wonderful collection by noted rug collector.

 Loges, Werner Turkoman Tribal Rugs Humanities Press Munich 1980 117 color plates 204 pp. GWO 1596.  One of the best books on the subject of Turkmen carpets and a title every collector should own.

 Mackie, Louise W. and Jon Thompson Turkmen Tribal Carpets and Traditions Textile Museum Washington 1980 95 color plates  117 black and white 240 pp. GWO 1597.  Textile Museum exhibition catalog of rugs from private collections. Important.

 Moshkova, V.G. edited by George W. O'Bannon Carpets of the People of Central Asia of the Late XIX and XX Centuries George W. O'Bannon Tucson 1996 140 color plates 385 pp. English translation of the classic work with color plates. Originally published in Russian, Moshkova's Carpets of the People of Central Asia is the most important book published on Central Asian rugs.

 Schurmann, U. Central-Asian Rugs: A Detailed Presentation of the Art of Rug Weaving in Central-Asia in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Verlag Osterrieth Frankfurt am Main 1969 100 color plates 176 pp. GWO 1645.  A standard work on these rugs with outstanding examples illustrated.
   

Caucasian       
 Bennett, Ian Oriental Rugs Volume 1 Caucasian Antique Collectors' Club Suffolk, UK 1981 (1993) 336 color plates 155 black and white 376 pp. GWO 1374.  The most extensively illustrated book on Caucasian rugs. A must for every collector of Caucasian carpets.

 Ellis, Charles Grant Early Caucasian Rugs The Textile Museum Washington DC 1975 16 color plates  21 black and white 112 pp. GWO 1398.  Important Textile Museum exhibition catalog of 37 old carpets from all regions of the Caucasus shown and described at length.  Includes an introduction to construction techniques and motifs. With glossary and bibliography. Literature in this area is scarce.

 Schurmann, U. Caucasian Rugs: A Detailed Presentation of the Art of Carpet Weaving in the Various Districts of the Caucasus during the 18th and 19th Century George Allen and Unwin Ltd.  London 1965 (1974) 160 color plates 360 pp. GWO 1476.  The classic. Wonderful examples. Not to be confused with the lesser quality color reprint of 1990.
   

Persian        
 Edwards, A. Cecil The Persian Carpet: A Survey of the Carpet-Weaving Industry of Persia Duckworth London 1953 (1967) 4 color plates  419 black and white 408 pages GWO 1990.  The standard work on Persian carpets of the late-19th to mid-20th century.

 Gans-Ruedin, E. The Splendor of Persian Carpets Rizzoli New York 1978 254 color plates 566 pp. GWO 2010. Sumptuous feast of the most important and famous classical Persian carpets and many other finely knotted urban carpets.  English/Farsi text. Second printing.

 Opie, James Tribal Rugs: Nomadic and Village Weavings from the Near East and Central Asia The Tolstoy Press Portland 1992 291 color plates  12 maps 324 pp. GWO 2097.  The emphasis of this important contribution to the literature of Iranian carpets is on South Persian examples. First edition.

 Stanzer, Wilfried Kordi: Lives-Rugs-Flatweaves of the Kurds in Khorasan Eigenverlag Wien 1988 100 color plates 224 pp. GWO 2139.  First edition. Comprehensive book on the flatweaves of these Persian Kurdish peoples in Eastern Iran from Adil Besim, an Austrian dealer and collector. German/English text.

 Tanavoli, Parviz Shahsavan, Iranian Rugs and Textiles Rizzoli New York 1985 96 color plates  287 black and white 435 pp. GWO 2151.  English language version of the most important work on Northwestern Persian tribal rugs and flatweaves.
   

Anatolian/Kilim  
 Acar, Belkis Balpinar Kilim-Cicim-Zili-Sumak, Turkish Flatweaves Eren Yayinlari Istanbul 1983 30 color plates 128 pp. GWO 1153. Excellent basic work on Turkish flatweaves. Includes glossary.

 Bruggemann, W. and H. Bohmer Rugs of the Peasants and Nomads of Anatolia Kunst & Antiquitaten Munich 1983 114 color plates 356 pp. GWO 1195.  The best single book on the subject of 19th century piled Turkish village and nomadic rugs. Extensive design and dye information. English text.

 Butterweck, Georg and Dieter Orasch Handbook of Anatolian Carpets: Central Anatolia / Das Standardwerk des anatolischen Knüpfteppichs. Zentralanatolien Im Eigenverlag Vienna 1986 229 color plates  20 black and white 125 pp. of text GWO 1197. Great examples of central Anatolian village rugs. German/English text.

 Cootner, Cathryn Anatolian Kilims, The Caroline and H. McCoy Jones Collection The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco / Hali Publications San Francisco 1990 112 color plates, 45 black and white 275 pp. GWO 1202.  Stunning collection of early kilims presented by Mrs. H. McCoy Jones to San Francisco's deYoung Museum.

 Davies, Peter The Tribal Eye: Antique Kilims of Anatolia Rizzoli New York 1993 58 color plates  32 black and white 140 pp. Excellent text with a focus on 19th century examples of these Turkish flatweaves with technical analysis.

 Hull, Alastair and Jose Luczyc-Wyhowska Kilim, The Complete Guide Thames and Hudson San Francisco 1993 378 color plates, 271 black and white 352 pp. Good section on Central Asian flatweaves. History, pattern, technique and identification.

 Petsopoulos, Y. Kilims: Flat-woven Tapestry Rugs Rizzoli New York 1979 72 color plates, 350 black and white 394 pp. GWO 890.  Seminal book on kilims. Mostly Turkish examples.
   

North Africa       
 Pickering, Brooke; W. Russell Pickering; Ralph S. Yohe Moroccan Carpets Hali Publications and the Near Eastern Art Research Center Chevy Chase 1994 115 color plates 26 color illustrations 160 pp. This is the first printing of the most important book on these North African carpets.

 Stanzer, Wilfried Berber: Tribal Carpets and Weavings from Morocco / Berberes: Tapis de tribus et textiles du Maroc Helmut Reinisch Graz 1991 180 color plates 52 black and white 160 pp. GWO 1930.  The Hersberger collection of Moroccan rugs with good study of Berber nomads.
   

Eastern Asia       
 Bidder, Hans Carpets from Eastern Turkestan: Known as Khotan, Samarkand and Kansu Carpets Washington International Associates London 1964 (1979) 20 color plates  50 black and white 96 pp. GWO 1689. A major work and study of rugs from East Turkestan, the region in Central Asia/Western China. Includes the importance of the region as part of the silk route, the influences of China, Buddhism and Islam, motifs, and weaving and dyeing techniques. 70 rugs from the 17th-19th century are shown and described with extensive footnotes.

 Eiland, Murray L. Chinese and Exotic Rugs New York Graphic Society Boston 1979 52 color plates, 180 black and white, 30 drawings 246 pp. GWO 1698.  Excellent book on this arcane subject. Includes Tibetan, Mongolian, East Turkestan, India, North Africa, and the Balkans.

 Lorentz, H.A. A View of Chinese Rugs from the Seventeenth to the Twentieth Century Routledge and Kegan Paul London 1972 95 color plates, 60 black and white 194 pp. GWO 1738.  Standard reference and the best book yet on pre-1925 Chinese carpets.

 Pacific Asia Museum; Tom Rutherford Woven Jewels: Tibetan Rugs from Southern California Collections Chris Pearce / Pacific Asia Museum (Pasadena) 1992 120 color plates 95 pp. GWO 1760.  Museum exhibition catalog of Tibetan carpets from the Rutherford collection.

 Rostov, Charles and Jia Guanyan Chinese Carpets Harry N. Abrams, Inc.  Abrams, NY 1983 120 color plates, 40 black and white 224 pp. GWO 1759.  The old rugs are from the Textile Museum holdings and the new rugs are current production.
   

Public Holdings and Private Collections     
 Dimand, M. S. and Jean Mailey Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Metropolitan Museum of Art New York 1973 19 color plates, 236 black and white 353 pp. GWO 268.  Important.  The Museum collection of rugs and carpets.

 Dimand, Maurice S. The Ballard Collection of Oriental Rugs in the City Art Museum of St. Louis City Art Museum of St. Louis St. Louis 1935 13 color plates (tipped-in), 56 black and white 200 pp. GWO 263.  #905 of 1000 copies. Plates were printed by famed Viennese firm Max Jaffe.

 Dodds, Dennis R. et al. Oriental Rugs from Atlantic Collections International Conference on Oriental Carpets Philadelphia 1996 331 color plates 277 pp. Massive catalog of the 8th ICOC in Philadelphia in 1996. Contains a wide range of rug types from private and museum collections, including rare Central Asian rugs and trappings from the Russian Ethnographic Museum in St. Petersburg and Classical carpets of the 16-17th centuries from the distinguished collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Beautifully illustrated, large pictures, cogent writing by leading authorities: Dodds, Eiland, Jr., Indictor, Mallary, Mast, Pickering, Pinner and Tsareva. Central Asian and tribal rugs are well represented.

 Eiland, Murray Oriental Rugs from Pacific Collections International Conference on Oriental Carpets San Francisco 1990 230 color plates 51 black and white 244 pp. GWO 337.  This substantial book documents the superb pile rugs, kilims and trappings exhibited during the 6th ICOC in San Francisco in 1990. As a major center for collectors and dealers since the 1960s, the Bay Area contains numerous world-class private and museum collections. Eiland's essays are useful additions to the wide range of mostly tribal, village and classical pieces. There are several extraordinary Central Asian weavings from the Russian Ethnographic Museum. The private collections show strong tribal interest.

 Ellis, Charles G. Oriental Carpets in the Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia 1988 72 color plates 100 black and white 304 pp. GWO 338.  Great rugs, scholarship and color reproduction.

 Kendrick, A. F. and C. E. C. Tattersall Handwoven Carpets, Oriental and European Benn Brothers London 1922 18 color plates, 186 black and white 636 pp. GWO 646.  Major standard work.  Two volume set.  Limited to 1,000 copies.

 Kirchheim, E. H. Orient Stars Hali Publications Ltd.  London 1993 250 color plates 394 pp. Massive. Kirchheim collection of mainly early Anatolian carpets. Probably the finest collection assembled in the last 50 years.

 McMullan, Joseph V. Islamic Carpets Near Eastern Art Research Center New York 1965 106 color plates, 45 black and white 387 pp. GWO 780. One of the most important collections formed in the 20th century. Spectacular examples and printing. Stunning

Spuhler, Fredrich. Islamic Carpets and Textiles in the Keir Collection Faber and Faber, London 1978 pp. 49 color plates, 116 black and white 252 pp. GWO 1027. The catalog of the classical carpets and textiles in the Edmund de Unger collection. 
   

Technical        
 Mallett, Marla Woven Structures: A Guide to Oriental Rug and Textile Analysis Christopher Publications Atlanta 1998 [2011] 490 black and white 188 pp. Wonderfully clear analysis of an important area. Revised edition. Third printing.   

Series        
 Franz and Peter Bausback
 
 Eberhardt Herrmann  

 Oriental Carpet and Textile Studies