SPAIN, MID 17TH CENTURY

Details

AN ALCARAZ RUG
SPAIN, MID 17TH CENTURY
The light blue field decorated with a golden lozenge lattice containing feathery palmettes and acanthus leaves with scattered minor animal motifs, in a mid blue linked scrolling arabesque border with small stylised animal figures between narrow plain ivory and golden yellow minor stripes, very slight wear, a couple of small repairs
8ft.4in. x 4ft.2in. (252cm. x 128cm.)

Provenance

D. Enrique Traumann, 1933

Literature

Torres-Ferrandis, J.: Exposicion de Alfombras Antiguas Españolas, Madrid 1933, no.46, p.114, pl.XX.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Carpet weaving was introduced to Spain during the Moorish occupation and continued throughout the centuries. This rug was a product of a commercial industry that appeared from the sixteenth century onwards. The distinctive palette consists of golden yellow, ivory, light and mid-blue. The designs were inspired by carpets from Anatolia which were available in Europe at that time but were extremely costly (D. King, and D. Sylvester: The Eastern Carpet in the Western World, London, 1983, figs. 18-20).

The original inspiration for the present design derives from sixteenth century Italian velvets which proved so influential in Turkey as well as Spain. This rug has survived in remarkably good condition, retaining almost all the pile and colour it would have had when made.

Please also see the note to the following lot.

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