A standard book on so large a subject as that
of carpets must necessarily itself be large, and when such a book is compiled by the Keeper of the Department of Textiles at the Victoria and Albert Museum we are not surprised that he should need two large volumes in which to instruct us. The matter is treated with great thoroughness from every point of view ; design, colour, texture and the technicalities of weaving all being severally considered and illustrated. Volume II. consists, indeed, entirely of plates, some of the coloured ones giving a very good representation of the fine originals. There are also a number of diagrams showing the great variety of motifs used in carpets of all countries at various periods that will be especially interesting to the designer. One perhaps feels that in most carpets there is an excess of " detail," and that a good deal of it is irrelevant and unrelated to any dominating and unifying general plan sufficient to harmonize the parts into coherence. In this respect at least some of the later European examples come rather gratefully after the syncopated clamour of the Asiatics. Heraldry with its flowing mantling would seem to be especially suitable for the embellishing of carpets, but comparatively little seems to have been done with it. Indeed, since the beneficent activities of Robert Adam and William Morris, the carpet-makers have had little guidance from the enlightened, and have therefore been wise in for the most part repeating the traditional Eastern forms that, if a little overworked, are at any rate generally acceptable from their very familiarity. Mr. Kendrick's great book is not one that can be adequately appreciated in a short review, but we would' commend it as a rich treasury to all who care for Eastern Art in general or for carpets in particular.
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