WEST ANATOLIA, EARLY 18TH CENTURY

This rug is one of a well-known group of rugs, attributed to Ghiordes, which follow directly on in the same tradition as the Transylvanian prayer rugs (see the previous lot as well as lot 230 in this catalogue). The wefts are however red, a feature that is found in a number of Ghiordes prayer rugs of this design, often with denser versions of the design, that have become known as "Basra" Ghiordes prayer rugs (for an example sold in these Rooms see Rugs and Carpets: Battilossi Tappeti d'Antiquariato, 11 February, 1998, lot 72). Other rugs similar to the present example are in the Bruckenthal Museum, Sibiu (Stefano Ionescu, Antique Ottoman Rugs in Transylvania, Rome, 2005, cat.216, p.170), in the Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Vienna (Angela Völker, Die Orientalischen Knüpfteppiche im Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Vienna, 2001, no.37, p.128), amongst a number of others. The soft light green field colour found here is extremely unusual.