A 'Transylvanian' prayer rug, West Anatolia, late 17th century

Acquired from Eberhart Herrmann, Germany, circa 1978

Thence by descent

Eberhart Herrmann, Von Lotto bis Tekke, Seltene Orientteppiche Aus Vier Jahrhunderten, Munich, 1978, p.6 and p.10, no.3

The present prayer rug belongs to a group that has 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. A key feature of the group is a plain ground field, with decoration confined to the border and spandrels. The madder-red field of this example contrasts with the soft lemon-yellow border, yet the powerful scale of the border, intricately drawn with alternating palmettes and pine cones, provides balance to the arrangement. A closely comparable rug from the collection of Thomas and Glen Farnham was sold at Sotheby’s, New York, 1 October 2015, lot 50. The present example is remarkable for its state of preservation, retaining the original kilim finish at each end. An example also retaining its kilim finishes but with a yellow-ground field is in the Black Church, Braşov (inv. no.129, see HALI, no.191, p.94).