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Carpets And Rugs

The spool Axminster made with woolen yarn comes third. Price depends upon the quantity of wool employed. The cheapest grades scarcely cover the surface. In such cases one can plainly see the jute backing between the rows of tufts. This type of carpet is practically the same in durability as the Velvet. The cheap Axminster can be told at once by looking at the back, as the back presents a distinctly ribbed appearance, the ribs extending crosswise as shown in Figure 49.

Many Tapestry, Velvet and Axminster rugs are woven in one piece without seams.

Medium-Priced Rugs

The medium-priced vug is more difficult to classify because it involves the distinction of grades of a given type. Brussels is the only type that can be definitely fixed as a medium-priced floor covering. Brussels being made of high-grade materials and at the present time not particularly popular, the price on the basis of quality and durability is extremely reasonable.

The Imperial Axminster perhaps comes next in quality. In materials it is not quite as good as the Brussels, but being a cut-pile carpet and much in vogue it ranks considerably higher in demand than the Brussels. The exact quality depends upon the amount and the quality of wool employed. Some Imperial Axminsters are made with fine worsted, in which case with proper pattern the result is as beautiful as as Oriental. These Axminsters are usually woven in carpet widths and sewed together.

The Imperial Axminster is woven as shown in Figure 48 which gives a very much less ribbed appearance than the cheap Axminster, and the pattern shows through the back.