A "Transylvanian" rug, West Anatolia

Burton Y. Berry, Out of the Past: The Istanbul Grand Bazaar, New York, 1977, p. 84

Pile ranges from 1/10th of an inch most in ivories to low to knotheads. Oxidized dark browns showing foundation in areas. Scattered reweaves most to lower end of field and to lower end border. The largest reweave being approximately 5in. by 3in. Some smaller reweaves to center of rug. Some scattered repiling, not extensive. Upper end with original striped kilim finish. Lower end with kilim finish now with a 2in. by 1in. reweave. Sides are reselvaged. Both ends with cloth bands sewn on reverse; upper end with hanging rings sewn on reverse. Scattered surface dirt and spot stains. Flexible handle; sound fabric and 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 facing mihrab arches, this lot belongs to a group of double prayer niche "Transylvanian" rugs made in the second half of the seventeenth century. Although its field is populated with a variety of angularly drawn vines and flower heads common in “Transylvanian” rugs, here these decorative elements are arranged in a rather unusual way; the madder red field is centered by an indigo medallion, which is outlined by a garland and is filled with stylized blossoms and tulips framing a highly archaic ‘secondary medallion.’ The flowering outline around the indigo medallion relates this rug to a sub-group of “Transylvanian” rugs known as the “rosette-garland group,” which is characterized by diamond-shaped medallions outlined by parallel rows of connected flower heads. For examples of such rugs see Stefano Ionescu ed., Antique Ottoman Rugs in Transylvania, Rome, 2005, p. 130, cats. 119 and 120 and Emese Pásztor, Ottoman Turkish Carpets, Budapest, 2007, pp. 130-33, nos. 32 and 33. None of the published “rosette-garland” rugs have medallions populated by such stylized vines and ‘secondary medallion’ as the present example. The tulips appearing here are similar to those found in a “rosette-garland” rug illustrated Ionescu, op. cit, p. 131 and the red vines on the indigo ground are comparable to those in another example illustrated ibid., p. 130, cat. 118. The example closest to the present piece, with a medallion outlined by a garland and filled with stylized flowers, but without a 'secondary medallion' is the one sold Sotheby's New York, April 10-11, 1981, lot 148. However, the combination of these elements and the archaic ‘secondary medallion’ appears to be unique to the present lot. The main border of the lot offered here is filled with "Transylvanian" cartouches that are found in numerous rugs of this type, for one example see Sotheby's London, October 7, 2009, lot 269. The small pinwheels in the inner guard border are more unusual and appear in only a handful of published “Transylvanian” rugs.