Second half 19th century, 145 x 100 cm, Central Anatolia, Ankara region

Collection VOK: Anatolia 10

In this white-ground prayer kilim, the narrow field bounded by lateral “zip fastener” outlines contains several large hexagons and a row of six double arrow designs which has been interspersed between them. The flat mihrab arch is topped with a large cone-shaped tip enclosing a design of totemistic appearance. The tip stands out strikingly from the surrounding grass-green ground. The wide brown-ground border displaying blocks of colourful diagonal stripes with stepped outlines is an unusual feature, albeit a characteristic one of this rare group of niche kilims. The blocks face opposite directions, suggesting a flowing movement. – Herrmann first published this example in 1990, arriving at surprising insights in his interpretation of the design. He attributes the kilim to a Turkmen tribal group in eastern Central Anatolia. Hirsch surmises that the kilim was made in the surroundings of Polatli, a town near Ankara. Local weavers interviewed by Hirsch interpreted the design either as an abstract human figure or a tombstone. Small-format kilims of this type served as prayer mats or curtains covering niches in the walls of village houses. Butterweck attributes a comparable example to the Denizli region in south western Anatolia, but this is probably incorrect. – Good condition, both ends minimally reduced.

TKF-WIEN (publ.), Antike Orientteppiche aus österreichischem Besitz. Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Textil–Kunst-Forschung. Vienna 1986, no. 27

HERRMANN, EBERHART, Asiatische Teppich- und Textilkunst 2. Munich 1990, no. 19 *** VOK, IGNAZIO, Vok Collection. Anatolia. Kilims and other Flatweaves from Anatolia. (Text by Udo Hirsch) Munich 1997, no. 10