An Axminster prayer rug, England

European and Oriental Carpets from the Dildarian Collection, Sotheby's New York, October 4, 1994, lot 83.

Pile generally good, near original approximately 1/6th of an inch throughout. Some minor scattered moth damage around edges. Some restitching around edges and a few scattered visible warp ties. Some very minor scattered foldwear. All four sides bound with flatwoven strips that are now folded under and sewn. Flexible handle, very good overall condition. Some surface dirt and unusual Orientalist design.
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 highly unusual Axminster rug reflects European interest in Turkish art and culture in the 18^th century. Europeans had been fascinated with the Orient for centuries but in the late 1700s, with the weakening of the Ottoman Empire as a result of its expulsion from Central Europe in the late seventeenth century, westerners started to view Anatolia with curiosity more than concern. The Franco-Ottoman alliance in 1715 established the fashion for 'turquerie' in France and pseudo-Turkish characteristics began to appear in every segment of European life from fashion to music. The immense success of Mozart's operas The Abduction from the Seraglio and Zaide illustrate how welcoming western audiences were to anything considered Turkish. This lot is the invention of this era, when an already prosperous company took advantage of the rage for 'turquerie' and created a product that it was certain to capture the attention of its wealthy clientele. This prayer rug of Ottoman style was sure to enchant those patrons who were used to the clearly European sensibility of the Rococo and Neoclassicism and who would have been eager to follow the newest trends and purchase such a whimsical and fashionable conversation piece. The uniqueness of this rug is just as captivating as it was at the time of its creation and just as then, today it would fit well with both eighteenth century decorative arts and a collection of genuine Ottoman prayer rugs.