PROBABLY HAGOP KAPOUDJIAN, CORFU OR PARIS, CIRCA 1920

The knot count measures approximately 7V x 8H knots per cm. sq.

The inspiration for this rug, part of the so-called 'Toussounian' group, may have been a Safavid carpet in the Victoria and Albert Museum (acc.no.T.147-1958), whose pair is in the Museum for Applied Art, Vienna. The latter was published by Sarre and Trenkwald, Alte-Orientalische Teppiche, Vienna, 1926, pl.10. The Safavid examples share a very similar border with ours, and a field populated by animals set against scrolling vines and fantastical flowerheads. The same border was used on a number of 'Toussounian' rugs, such as one sold in these Rooms, 23 April 2013, lot 141.