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Lot Essay
The knot count is approximately 10V x 10H knots per sq.cm.
The signature is the Armenian name Pineamin with some of the vowels left out - the equivalent of the European name Benjamin. Over the past decades knowledge of the Armenian weavers of the Koum Kapi district in Istanbul has grown to the point where we are now able to attribute many of the rugs to individual weavers. Unfortunately the signature in the centre of the present rug remains a mystery. Whilst it is tempting to suggest that this could be an alternate signature for Zareh Penyamin it seems unlikely as none of the Koum Kapi weavers are known to have signed with their surnames. The quality of the weaving of the present rug is unmistakable, from its excellent drawing to the wonderfully rich palette of gold and lavender silk. The design is taken from two magnificent mid-16th century Herat spiral vine carpets in the Österreichisches Museum für angewante Kunst in Vienna, inv. no. T8376/1922KB and Or311/1891/1907, which were published by Sarre and Trenkwald in Altorientalische Teppiche, Vienna and Leipzig, 1926, pl. 9 and 10 (a copy of which is included in the present sale, lot 1).
The signature is the Armenian name Pineamin with some of the vowels left out - the equivalent of the European name Benjamin. Over the past decades knowledge of the Armenian weavers of the Koum Kapi district in Istanbul has grown to the point where we are now able to attribute many of the rugs to individual weavers. Unfortunately the signature in the centre of the present rug remains a mystery. Whilst it is tempting to suggest that this could be an alternate signature for Zareh Penyamin it seems unlikely as none of the Koum Kapi weavers are known to have signed with their surnames. The quality of the weaving of the present rug is unmistakable, from its excellent drawing to the wonderfully rich palette of gold and lavender silk. The design is taken from two magnificent mid-16th century Herat spiral vine carpets in the Österreichisches Museum für angewante Kunst in Vienna, inv. no. T8376/1922KB and Or311/1891/1907, which were published by Sarre and Trenkwald in Altorientalische Teppiche, Vienna and Leipzig, 1926, pl. 9 and 10 (a copy of which is included in the present sale, lot 1).