A "Transylvanian" rug, West Anatolia

Pile generally low to knotheads throughout, with a few scattered areas of slightly higher pile; scattered foldware and some scattered spot stains. Some minor repiling to field south of central medallion. Repiling to central ivory lozenge in lower end border. Ends with original flat woven finishes, lower end with an approximately 4 inch reweave to flat woven end in center. Sides mostly reselvaged but also retaining some original selvages. Some minor scattered moth damage, upper end with cloth band sewn on reverse for hanging. In very good condition for age with very reasonable amount of restoration.
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.

With its facing mihrab arches, this lot relates to a group of double prayer niche "Transylvanian" rugs made in the second half of the seventeenth century. However this rug does not include lanterns in its niches and its field is not populated with the usual angularly drawn vines and flower heads. Instead, the field is centered by an archaic medallion, making this piece more closely related to a small and rare group of "Transylvanian" rugs that developed from small medallion Oushak weavings, such as the one illustrated in Emese Pásztor, Ottoman Turkish Carpets, Budapest, 2007, pp. 128-29, no. 31. For small medallion Oushak rugs with related medallions, see idib. p. 110-11, no. 23 and, formerly in the collection of Baron Henrik Tuchner, Károly Csányi, Erdélyi török szőnyegek kiállításának leíró lajstroma, Budapest, 1914, no. 67. The dark blue field surrounding the double niche is filled with serrated leaves and carnations, as found in many west Anatolian rugs from the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. A very closely related piece with almost identical design in its spandrels is illustrated Stefano Ionescu ed., Antique Ottoman Rugs in Transylvania, Rome, 2005, p. 128, cat. 113. The main border of the lot offered here is filled with "Transylvanian" cartouches that are found in many rugs of this type, for one example see Sotheby's London, 7 October 2009, lot 269. However, these eighteen-sided cartouches are decorated with a mixture of symmetrical and asymmetrical arabesques, which is rarely seen in "Transylvanian" rugs. Asymmetrical arabesques are the most common in cartouches and occasionally symmetrical ones are used as well, as in the case in ibid. p. 118, cat. 83. The mixture of the two types is rather rare and can be found only in a very limited number of "Transylvanian" rugs, such as the one illustrated Ferenc Batári, Ottoman Turkish Carpets, Budapest-Keszthely, 1994, p. 144. This rarely-seen border design, coupled with the Oushak-derived small medallion, make this lot particularly interesting and unusual.