EAST TURKESTAN, 18TH CENTURY

A classic motif in East Turkestan carpets, the pomegranate is an ancient and enduring symbol of life and fertility. As is typical to the type, the all-over pomegranate-tree design issues from four vases with two located at both the top and bottom of the carpet. The border design is possibly derived from an earlier "twin ram horn" motif. The connotation of male virility associated with the ram is thus a perfect counterbalance to the tradition of pomegranates representing female fertility.

For another example of the all-over pomegranate motif, please see Christie's London, 14 February 2001, Davide Halevim, Magnificent Carpets and Tapestries, Lot 40

For further reading on carpets from East Turkestan, and the pomegranate-vase design, please see H. Bidder, Carpets from Eastern Turkestan, Maryland, 1979.