Lot Essay
This rug clearly relates to one sold in our New York salerooms, 20 April 1994, lot 51, formerly sold Lefevre & Co., 23 November 1994, lot 31. That rug has the same star panels found at each end of the present rug within a similar border. It lacks however the dominant central panel. Another related piece was advertised by Emil Mirzakhanian (HALI 62, April 1992, p.25). The central panel here appears to be a compression of the well-known 15th and 16th century design which has a central rectangular panel (Balpinar, B. and Hirsch, U.: Carpets -- Vakiflar Museum, Istanbul, Wesel, 1988, pls.18-21, pp.212-219). A rug which appears to be related to the present example, retaining the central panel but without the accuracy of drawing seen here, is in the McMullen Collection (McMullen, Joseph V.: Islamic Carpets, New York, 1965, no.102, pp.308-9). The waisted parts of the central panel in both rugs contain and are flanked by similar motifs.