ATTRIBUTABLE TO ZAREH PENYAMIN, ISTANBUL, TURKEY, CIRCA 1920

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

A small number of Koum Kapi rugs were woven from the cartoon that has been used here. Its elegant scrolling arabesque design is based on that of a 17th century Isfahan ‘Polonaise’ carpet. Well known and widely published, this group was the subject of a dissertation by Friedrich Spuhler who created a system for categorising them based on their various design components. The field design on the present lot conforms with Type I, examples of which are in several collections including those of the Kremlin in Moscow (acc.no. 3.721) and two in the Munich Residenz (acc. nos. WC7 and WC9). An example in the Museum fur Angewandte Kunst in Vienna was published by Sarre and Trenkwald, Altorientalische Teppiche, Vienna, 1926, pl.28, a publication which Zareh and his contemporaries almost certainly referred to for their designs. Another rug with the same field and border design system and elongated proportions woven on a glorious green ground can be seen on the 'Polonaise' carpet of King Umberto, which sold in these Rooms 29 April 1993, lot 432, for what was then the world record price paid for a Persian carpet.

This distinctive Istanbul Armenian silk and metal-thread rug is attributable to the atelier of Zareh Penyamin on account of its similarity to an example in the Arkas Collection, slightly smaller in size, but with fourteen signatures of Zareh Penyamin. Another, more faded example, which was signed in at least five places, was sold in these Rooms, 29 April 1993, lot 325. Two further rugs woven from the same cartoon without signatures were sold in these Rooms, 28 April 1995, lot 495, and 6 April 2006, lot 112. Like the 2006 example, the colours of the present example are extremely well preserved.