A SILK KHOTAN CARPET FRAGMENT

Details

A SILK KHOTAN CARPET FRAGMENT
EAST TURKESTAN, CIRCA 1800

The rust-red field with a polychrome latched coffered trellis containing polychrome latched rosettes overall within a rust-red border with a polychrome stylized wave-and-cloud border, pale indigo maze-work inner border and an open rust red outer border, missing small areas of selvage overcast, two holes along right fragmentary edge, one bound edge
Approximately 7ft.8in. x 3ft.10in. (234cm. x 117cm.)

Warp: ivory cotton, Z5S, at edges slightly depressed and slightly undulating, generally considerably depressed and undulating
Weft: 3 shoots, light blue or ivory cotton, Z3S, colour consistent between each row of knots, first and third undulating, second more so
Pile: silk, Z2-4S, asymmetrical open to the left H3.3 x V2.5/cm.
Sides: main weft sometimes runs over three additional warps, sometimes between the three and the outer knotted warp, the extra warps overbound with additional red silk Z2-4S
Lower end: plainweave with light blue cotton, then 4-7 warps knotted together

Provenance

Acquired 4 February 1935 as a "Seiden-Teppich Fragment" for DM95

Literature

Bernheimer, Otto, Alte Teppiche des 16.-18. Jahrhunderts der Firma L. Bernheimer, Munich, 1959, pl.97

Lot Essay

The coffered gl pattern of the present piece may reflect the influence of Chinese textiles on East Turkestan carpet designs. A similar design is known on Chinese silk fragments dating from the seventh to ninth centuries (Bidder, Hans: Carpets from Eastern Turkestan, Tbingen, 1964, p.57-59).

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