WEST ANATOLIA, EARLY 17TH CENTURY

This is certainly one of the largest Ushak medallion carpets to be seen on the auction market for many years and, remarkably, is in a better state of preservation than most. The field design is classically based on a large central indigo medallion on a red ground with two half medallions at either end. The border design of red, yellow and green stylised cloudbands is more unusual. Often found on smaller medallion Ushaks or 'Lotto' rugs it first makes an appearance in the early 16th century. One such example was sold in these Rooms, 17 October, 1996, lot 411. For similar examples of the 'Cloudband' border group see Ferenc Batari, Ottoman Turkish Carpets, Budapest, 1994, pp.48-9 and 108, pl.13, and Christopher Alexander, A Foreshadowing of 21st Century Art, New York and Oxford, 1993, p.284-5. The border design was not only limited to smaller rugs and can be found on an Ushak carpet of 'Smyrna' design sold in these Rooms, Davide Halevim, 14 February, 2001, lot 53, and another lot sold in The Bernheimer Collection, in these Rooms, 14 February, 1996, lot 102.