- 26
Two Şarkışla carpet fragments, East Anatolia, Sivas province
Description
- Wool, pile
- the larger fragment: 239 by 88cm; 7ft. 6in., 2ft.11in; the smaller fragment: 100 by 57cm; 3ft. 3in., 1ft. 10in.
Literature
Alexander, C., A Foreshadowing of 21st Century Art The Color and Geometry of Very Early Turkish Carpets, New York, 1993, pp. 138 - 141, ill p. 139, p. 76 (detail).
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. 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."
Catalogue Note
One very similar weaving, which shares the polychrome cloudband and stylised cloudband border, is published in Spuhler. F., Die Orienteppiche im Museum für Islamische Kunst Berlin, Germany, 1987, pl. 23, dated to the 16/17th century. Another example, again with similar border design and colouring is in the Vakiflar carpet museum, Istanbul, inv. no. A-84, Turkish Carpets from the 13th- 18th centuries, 1996, p. 131, plate 94, this example dated to the late 16th century. Very few of these works appear in auction; one sold at Sotheby’s New York, 14 December 2001, lot 26, for $26,050, this example also sharing the intense yellow and red colouring.
Another very striking rug which shares near exact colouring is in the Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri, see Denny. W., The Carpet and the Connoisseur The James F. Ballard Collection of Oriental Rugs, Verona, 2016, p. 157, cat. no. 37. Denny likens the Ballard example to 15th century Venetian silks which were imported to the Ottoman Empire as early as the first half of the 16th century, ibid, pp. 149 & 156. On examining some of these silks one can see comparisons, for example a 16th century Venetian silk published Geijer. A., A History of Textile Art, London, 1979, pl. 49 – b, in deep red and gold has a stem and ’pomegranate’ motif which has a close semblance to the stem and leaves above and below the half lozenge in the offered lot.