ATTRIBUTABLE TO HAGOP KAPOUDJIAN, ISTANBUL, TURKEY, CIRCA 1895

The knot count measures approximately 11V x 9H knots per cm. sq.

This rug is a pair to another example in the George Farrow collection which sold in these Rooms, 25 April 2024, lot 178. That example could be securely dated to the early part of Hagop's career, shortly after he arrived in Istanbul from Kayseri, as it was exhibited at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900, where it was bought by Julius Orendi. The provenance of this example is less clear, and it is possible that it was also made for the Exposition. It is more likely that several were made - either on commission or in the hopes of selling them to other visitors to the Turkish Pavilion. Like the rug sold in April, this example has a remarkably thick pile throughout.

The design of our rug is taken directly from that of the Safavid, Lobanov-Rostovsky medallion rug, now in the Hermitage Museum. St Petersburg (see John Mills, 'The Salting Carpets', Oriental Carpet and Textile Studies Vol. V, Part 2). Though the rug had originally been in Istanbul, it went to Russia in 1878 at the time of the Russo-Turkish war. The rug was subsequently published as a large plate in Friedrich Sarre's ‘Vienna Book', Orientalische Teppiche, Vienna, 1892-96. Both rugs have the same inscriptions in the border cartouches, and a matching arrangement of animals in the field. The main difference in design is a softening of the colour palette, probably to suit the tastes of potential buyers at the World’s Fair.

George Farrow attributed this carpet and its pair to Hagop Kapoudjian based on their quality, the thick pile, and the loyal reproduction of classical design. A rug of similar design, though smaller in size, is in the Arkas collection, where it is also attributed to the work of Hagop Kapoudjian (Kumkapi rugs from the Arkas Collection, exhibition catalogue, Izmir, 2017, p.32, no.1). Farrow also owned a set of cartoons, including some with the lobed central medallion and animals seen on this rug, which were sold in these Rooms, 25 April 2024, lot 180.