WEST ANATOLIA, SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY

The basic elements of a classic medallion Ushak carpet are still fully recognisable in this carpet. The proportions and layout have however been changed and are now far closer to those of a number of Turkish village rugs than to the court products of the sixteenth century. An example of a village rug with very comparable field layout probably attributable to early 19th century Bergama was in the McMullen Collection (Joseph V. McMullen, Islamic Carpets, New York, 1965, no.94, pp.288-9). A larger 18th century Ushak carpet with the same field design as here but expanded into a repeating overall design was sold in these Rooms, 14 April 1988, lot 81.