PROBABLY FEREGHAN DISTRICT, FIRST HALF 19TH CENTURY

This is a particularly well drawn version of a field design which frequently degenerated into a much more simple lozenge pattern (The Bernheimer Family Collection of carpets, Christie's King Street, 14 February 1996, lot 76 for example). Two further examples were at Hackwood House, sold by Christie's 20-22 April 1998, lots 1093 and 1108. The second of these, like the present carpet, had a border which derived from 18th century Turkish carpet designs, demonstrating a reversal of the lines of influence which had been seen in the 16th and 17th centuries.