WEST ANATOLIA, MID-17TH CENTURY

The large central floral medallion of the present rug derives from a small number of Ottoman Cairene prayer rugs with diamond-shaped floral medallions, such as the example in the Topkapi Saray Museum (J.M. Rogers and Hulye Tezcan, The Topkapi Saray Museum Carpets, London, 1987, pl.1, pp.40-41. A double niche rug in the collection of the Black Church, Brasov is closely related to the present example and is illustrated in Emil Schmutzler, Altorientalische Teppiche in Siebenburgen, Leipzig, 1933, pl.53. For further discussion of the origin of 'Transylvanian' rugs see lot 82 in the present sale.