A 'Transylvanian' prayer rug, West Anatolia

The Textile Gallery, London

Pile ranges from closely shorn 1/8in. with dark browns oxidized to knot heads and foundation. Some dark blue greens also oxidized. Small scattered repiled areas in red field, not extensive. Small, quarter-size, reweave in center of field, another slightly large along inner quart stripe and field. Main border with secondary design elements oxidized and faded to faint outlines. Partial original 4-cord madder red selvages with some repairs going into outer guardstripes; not extensive. Ends secured with blanket stitch. Velcro hanging strips sewn to reverse of upper end. Flexible handle, very good overall condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This lot belongs to the group of Transylvanian prayer rugs with uncertain origin. They have been known as “Transylvanian Oushaks,” “church-type rugs,” and prayer rugs of Melas or Ghiordes origin, among others, see Stefano Ionescu, Antique Ottoman Rugs in Transylvania, Rome, 2005, p. 65. Similarly to lot 51 in this sale, these prayer rugs are now considered provincial interpretations of weavings produced in court workshops in Istanbul and Cairo. As customary for rugs of this group, the field is left unadorned and the decoration is concentrated to the spandrels and the borders letting the soft yet powerful madder red field balance the intricate and detailed design motifs. With its brown scrolling tendrils, this lot belongs to a sub-group of single-niche Transylvanian prayer rugs, see Iionescu, op. cit., pp. 142-145, figs. 149-158. The border decoration, which consists of delicately drawn palmettes and pine cones, is clearly influenced by Ottoman court style floral decoration. Although at first the border decoration seems simpler than it is in related weavings, on close inspection it becomes clear that it only appears more basic because the dyes of many of the secondary motifs within the border have oxidized and are now barely visible. For a prayer rug most similar to the present lot with its madder red field, tendril-filled spandrels and rosette and pinecone border, also considered by Ionescu as one of the earliest of the group with finely designed main and secondary borders, see Ionescu, op. cit., p. 143, cat. 153.