A Melas prayer rug, Southwest Anatolia

Pile ranges from approximately 1/6th of an inch, mostly in ivories, to low to knotheads in spot foundations and in oxidized dark browns. Scattered fold wear. A few scattered small cobbled repairs in left and right side inner and outer guard borders. Ends with original flat woven finishes, with lower end having some losses and fraying. Reselvaging with some overcasting. Very supple handle, very striking ivory field above mihrab. Good, honest 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.

With its use of a gentle color palette, this Melas prayer rug is closely related to lot 72 in this sale. However, whereas lot 72 is decorated with traditional palmettes, vines and small hanging amulets above its prayer arch, this rug is adorned more unconventionally. Here, the same area is populated with small flower heads, rendering this section of the lot reminiscent to white-ground Çintimani rugs, such as the one illustrated in Emese Pásztor, Ottoman Turkish Carpets, Budapest, 2007, pp. 94-5, no. 17, one in Károly Csányi, Erdélyi török szőnyegek kiállításának leíró lajstroma, Budapest, 1914, no. 303 and the ones in Stefano Ionescu ed., Antique Ottoman Rugs in Transylvania, Rome, 2005, pp. 104-6, cats. 48-54. In contrast, the field of the prayer arch is decorated in a more usual way as it contains twelve complex stylized flower heads and vertically arranged rhombi with decorated sides containing cogwheel rosettes. Interestingly, the sides of the lowest of the rhombi is drawn as the continuation of the inner guards, forming a design resembling that of re-entrant prayer rugs.