A `small medallion' Oushak rug, West Anatolia

Pile 1mm generally. Blue ground overall fair condition. Small areas of lower pile or red foundation visible. Down to knot-bars in the red of the border. Areas of repair and reweaves within the red of the ground of the main field. Oxidisation to browns of inner bands, and area of repair to this ground around the top half of rug of this narrow band. Partially rebuilt on all outer guards. Lovely drawing and colouring.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The use of facing mihrab arches, relates to a group of double prayer niche `Transylvanian' rugs of the seventeenth century. For a comparable medallion rug (approx. 157 by 111cm) dated early 17^th century, with a field centred with an archaic medallion against a red ground, the incorporation of a single lantern, spandrels with arabesque scrolls and an angular scrolling vine border against an indigo ground, see Ference Batári, Ottoman Turkish Carpets, Budapest-Keszthely, 1994, The Collections of the Museum of Applied Arts, Budapest I, pg. 55, & pg.133, pl. 43. This collection from the, includes examples of this type, and those that developed from small medallion Oushak weavings.  For related 17^th century small medallion Oushak rugs, with a double niche, see Alberto Boralevi, L'Ushak Castellani – Stroganoff,  Florence, 1987, Pl. 9, pg.30. (approx. 175 by 110cm), Sotheby's, London, 7^th October 2009, lot 271 (approx. 153 by 113cm), and Sotheby's, New York, 24^th September 1991, lot 58, 16th century (160 by 114cm), From the Estate of James A. Lucas.