ATTRIBUTABLE TO ZAREH PENYAMIN, ISTANBUL, TURKEY, CIRCA 1920

The knot count measures approximately 10V x 11H knots per cm. sq.

The colouring of the present example is broadly similar to that of lot 170 in the present sale: subtle variations include the strong blue flowerheads in the middle of the field. As mentioned in the note on lot 170, the cartoon from which the design was formulated is published by Pamela Bensoussan, "The Masterweavers of Istanbul", HALI 26, 1985, p.37). Like those examples, this rug is modelled on the Topkapi prayer rugs, and has an inscription in the cartouche naming the weaver as one 'Abdallah and bearing the date AH 990 / 1582 AD, a homage to the great impact which Safavid weaving had on carpet designers even into the 20th century.