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Fine Oriental and European Rugs and Carpets
Sale: LN8605 | Location: London, New Bond Street
Auction Dates: Session 1: Wed, 14 Oct 98 2:00 PM
LOT 58
A Karapinar 'multi niche' rug fragment
800—1,200 GBP
Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium:
8,050 GBP
DESCRIPTION
A Karapinar 'multi niche' rug fragment
Central Anatolia
17th Century, lower border rewoven, possibly
missing main borders
115 by 83 cm., 3 ft. 9 in. by 2 ft. 9 in.
Technical Analysis:
Warp: Wool, brindle, Z2S, alternately (left)
slightly depressed
Weft: Wool, camel-brown, Z, 2 shoots
Pile: Wool, Z2Sw
Knotting: Symmetric,.V/Hcm: 3-4/4
Sidecords: Not original
Ends: Warp fringe, wool, Z
Colours: Ivory, blue, red, camel, yellow,
aubergine (6)
According to Dennis D. Dodds, Oriental Rugs from
Atlantic Collections, Philadelphia, 1996, p.57,
there are approximately fifteen published
examples of Karapinar ascending multiple arch
rugs. The origin and interpretation of this
distinctive geometric design has been the subject
of much speculation with the cusped arches
alternately described as bulls horns, fertility
symbols or plants.
With its limited primary colour palette and
austere lack of field ornamentation this fragment
has the red, white and blue graphic quality of a
national flag. The majority of related examples
have at least four alternating colours in the
ascending field niches, whereas this has only
two: see later comparables such as Herrmann,
Eberhart, Seltene Orienteppiche IX, Munich, 1987,
pl.7 and Antike Anatolische Teppiche aus
Osterreichischem Besitz, Vienna, 1983, pl.36. The
majority of related pieces have polychrome
flowerheads and dice guls within the field
mihrabs, similar to those present in the current
ivory surround, see Bruggemann, W.; Bohmer, H.,
Teppiche der bauern und Nomaden in Anatolien,
Munich, 1982, pl.46.
Perhaps the closest related piece is a 16th or
17th century example exhibited and published by
the Textile Gallery, London in Hali, Issue 73,
p.63, which would suggest that the polychrome
flowerhead surround of the present fragment is,
in fact, part of the field which may have been
reduced at the lower end, and that this fragment
would have had a contrasting border to compliment
the field. Although incomplete, this piece has
the stylistic purity and absolute authority of a
complete entity. |
