PROBABLY DAMASCUS, SYRIA, 16TH CENTURY

Spuhler notes that "only 29 pieces with a consistent chessboard design" are known, almost half of which have an identical border. All of the smaller examples share a border of cartouches alternating with cusped lozenge panels, as do a few of those with more than six medallions. Only the larger carpets display a variety of border designs. The border of this fragment displays a palmette between two serrated leaves enclosed by a meandering vine. This variation would suggest that the fragment comes from a larger carpet of the group. A similarly arranged border although with variations in colour is found on a carpet sold in these Rooms 10 April 2008, lot 115 and another formerly in the Pharaon Collection and sold in these Rooms 11 October 1990, lot 17. A further comparable border arrangement is found on an example in the Berlin Museum (Friederich Spuhler, Oriental Carpets in the Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin, London, 1988, no.71, ill.p.214). For a fuller discussion on this group see the previous lot in the present sale.