Lot Essay
This unusual rug relates to a carpet fragment from the Bernheimer Collection sold in these Rooms 14 February 1996, lot 37. The Bernheimer fragment depicts in its border a more refined version of the present design, but also includes there the hyacinth florets which flank both sides of the present rug. The clearest similarity is in the large hooked palmettes radiating inwards from the border. A contemporary Caucasian rug which is related in design, demonstrating the link across the border, is illustrated by Yetkin (S.: Early Caucasian Carpets in Turkey, London, 1978, vol.1, pl.97).