EAST TURKESTAN, CIRCA 1910

The coffered gul pattern of the present carpet may reflect the influence of Chinese textiles on East Turkestan carpet designs. A similar design is known on Chinese silk fragments dating from the seventh to the ninth centuries (Hans Bidder, Carpets from Eastern Turkestan, Tubingen, 1964, p.57-59). A large silk carpet fragment of an earlier date sold in The Bernheimer Family Collection of Carpets, Christie's London, 14 February 1996, lot 49, while a complete silk carpet of the same design sold in the Davide Halevim, Magnificent Carpets and Tapestries, Christie's London, 14 February, 2001, lot 42.