WEST ANATOLIA, 17TH CENTURY

The present rug has one of the rarer field designs found in the 'Transylvanian' group, introducing a motif which ultimately derives from a small number of Ottoman Cairene prayer rugs such as one in the Textile Museum (Richard Ettinghausen, Prayer Rugs, exhibition catalogue, Washington D.C., 1974, no.III, pp.36-7). A rug with the same palette, field and border arrangement but with a varying pattern in the minor stripes, was formerly part of Ambassador Aita's collection, purchased Lefevre & Partners, London, 4th July 1975, lot 7. For further discussion on 'Transylvanian' rugs please see Stefano Ionescu, Antique Ottoman Rugs in Transylvania, Rome, 2006.