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Lot Essay
On the reverse of this rug there is a stamped name and date;
A. O. Wilkonski, XII September 1683, z pod Wiednia. This date is hugely important as it is that of the start of the Battle of Vienna which marked the turning point in the 300-year struggle between the forces of the Central European kingdoms and the Ottoman Empire.
The name A. O. Wilkonski is less easy to trace. Much of the Polish army consisted of local nobleman and marshals, some of whom were undoubtedly rewarded for their heroic efforts at battle. There was already an established tradition of collecting Islamic works of art in Poland prior to this event. In fact, the name Polonaise was coined due to the very great interest that the Polish had for these particular carpets. It would appear most likely that this Polonaise rug was gifted to A.O.Wilkonski in honour of his efforts during the Battle of Vienna on 12 September, 1683. (Article: Polish Renaissance Warfare by S. A. Jasinski, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vienna).
The strapwork design is rare to find in Polonaise carpets. For an article on Isfahan strapwork carpets please see an article by Ian Bennett in Hali 41, Spetember/October 1988, pp.34-43.
A. O. Wilkonski, XII September 1683, z pod Wiednia. This date is hugely important as it is that of the start of the Battle of Vienna which marked the turning point in the 300-year struggle between the forces of the Central European kingdoms and the Ottoman Empire.
The name A. O. Wilkonski is less easy to trace. Much of the Polish army consisted of local nobleman and marshals, some of whom were undoubtedly rewarded for their heroic efforts at battle. There was already an established tradition of collecting Islamic works of art in Poland prior to this event. In fact, the name Polonaise was coined due to the very great interest that the Polish had for these particular carpets. It would appear most likely that this Polonaise rug was gifted to A.O.Wilkonski in honour of his efforts during the Battle of Vienna on 12 September, 1683. (Article: Polish Renaissance Warfare by S. A. Jasinski, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Vienna).
The strapwork design is rare to find in Polonaise carpets. For an article on Isfahan strapwork carpets please see an article by Ian Bennett in Hali 41, Spetember/October 1988, pp.34-43.