17th / 18th century, 411 x 117 cm, Central Anatolia, Konya

This Anatolian rug type used to be little known in the West since it was obviously not exported. It has been attributed to Karapinar ever since May Beattie discovered several examples in one of the local mosques. The number of early pieces dating from the 17th / 18th centuries is small: one fragment in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; one fragment in the Vakiflar Museum, Istanbul; one fragment published by Herrmann; one fragment in the Wolf Collection, New York (published in Atlantic Collections); and the complete carpet measuring 5.1 metres in length and featuring three medallions in the Textile Museum, Washington. Our likewise complete piece showing three yellow-ground medallions is similar to the latter in terms of style and in the field and border designs. Where it differs is in the tree design of the white-ground inner border. The floral devices used in the field were borrowed from the Ottoman court repertoire, but have been converted into a geometric kilim style.

BALPINAR, BELKIS & HIRSCH, UDO, Teppiche des Vakiflar - Museums Istanbul. Wesel 1988, pl. 34 *** HERRMANN, EBERHART, Seltene Orientteppiche 10. Munich 1988, no. 11 *** DODDS, DENNIS & EILAND, MURRAY L., Jr. (eds.), Oriental Rugs From Atlantic Collections. Philadelphia 1996, no. 26 *** DENNY, WALTER B. & BELGER CRODY, SUMRU, The Sultan’s Garden. The Blossoming of Ottoman Art. Washington, D.C. 2012, no. 32

RIPPON BOSWELL, A 69, 19 May 2007. Lot 81

The flat-woven, red selvedges have been restored. Both ends slightly reduced. Light brown, almost completely corroded. Various restored sections. Signs of age and wear. The brown border has been re-knotted all around. In the central field, the pile is low and there are some larger repairs. The kilim ends have been reattached. Backed with linen.