CENTRAL ANATOLIA, SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY

The alternating tulip and palmette border pattern of our prayer rug is typical of Ladik weaving. It is common for the spandrels to be decorated with the serrated leaf and carnation design, also common in ‘Transylvanian’ rugs, but the placing of a small red samovar on either side of the stepped, hooked gable is a charming addition. A Ladik prayer rug of similar colouring with a tulip panel beneath the plain red niche, and which shows greater evidence of wear, was formerly in the collection of the late Hans Purrman, (1880–1966) one of the leading German artists in the first half of the 20th century (https://www.azerbaijanrugs.com/anatolian/ladik/). It is of note that the Compartment fragment, lot 227 in the present sale, was also formerly in the collection Hans Purrman, who evidently had an understanding of and passion for, early Classical carpets. Another example, which displays a tulip panel above the light blue mihrab, formerly in the collection of Paul Deeg, sold in these Rooms, 28 October 2021, lot 140. A comparable rug but with a much steeper stepped prayer arch than the moderate gable in the present rug, sold in these Rooms, 27 April 2017, lot 204.