A rare Kum Kapi silk and metal-thread brocaded rug, Northwest Anatolia

with polychrome silk (salmon, lime green, dark indigo, sky blue, dark taupe, dark brown, pale pink, cream) and silver metal thread brocading; very rare depiction of animals and birds within the brocaded areas including: elephants, doves, dogs, cockerels, parrots and ducks, the creatures in the pile include qilins, stags, dragons, lions, winged deer, leopards, and lions in combat with bulls, 'Face' signatures appear twice in the field

Knot count: 14V/cm; 15H/cm.



Polychrome silk fringes

Overall measurements; 177cm across the top, 182cm across the bottom, 255cm the left hand side, 255cm the right hand side. Generally good condition overall. Pile 2mm, closely sheared. There is some slight oxidisation, for example to the bands of darker golden yellow pile within field. A very small split (8mm), which would benefit from attention, middle of upper border. An area of weakness from folding to the middle of both the left and right hand side. Original sidecords and tasselled ends. Fringes at upper end approx. 14cm and 10cm at lower end . Both ends backed with green silk. Handle still very flexible. Would probably benefit from a professional clean and conservation.
"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."

Kum Kapi fine silk and metal-threads rugs are well known as a group, woven from the late 19^th century into the 20^th century, for displaying superior design and weaving skills, and Kum Kapi (Gateway to the Sands) was the Armenian quarter of Constantinople. They were renowned for not only being technically well executed, with silk, brocade, and metal-thread intricately combined in balanced symmetrical Ottoman court designs, but they have a mystery surrounding them; for although not all workshops signed their works, those that did, used a combination of small hidden cyphers, comprising of numbers, letters, calligraphic and Kufic marks. Within the brocade of two facing central palmettes entwined by serpent dragons in the present rug, there are motifs that are in the style of some used, but they are not presently identified to a particular workshop. The inclusion in this rug of the very small silk brocade animals within the palmettes is a particularly unusual and charming element.  

For a recent relevant review of considering the unattributed Kum Kapi pieces, see Önder Çokay, M., ‘Istanbul’s masters of silk’, Hali, 192, Summer 2017, pp.104-107 (extracted from the exhibition catalogue of 2015 when last exhibited). The article discussed the Kum Kapi workshops and the highlights from the Arkas Carpet Collection, which will be on view at the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum in Istanbul (October 2017), The present rug follows in the tradition of the combination of the Persian and Ottoman designs, with a symmetrical design incorporating animals including Chinese inspired Qilin, with palmettes and lattice scroll. Silk rugs from the workshops of the master weavers, Zareh Penyamian, Hagoup Kapoudijian, Toussounian and Garabed Apelian, known for his golden yellow grounds, have appeared on the market and are in museum and private collections. Other weavers include Avedis Tamishjian, master weaver who established workshops in the Kum Kapi district of Istanbul around 1920 and who worked for the merchant Nuh'negi.

For comparable field designs and similar palmette designed borders see Sotheby’s, 27 April 2005, lot 95, not signed & lot 99, with cartouche border, and Sotheby’s, London, 12 April 1989, lot 554, with inscriptions khuda (God) and anj (Zenith).

For further discussion of this famed group of silk and metal thread Kum Kapi rugs, see Farrow, George, F, Hagop Kapoudjian, The First and Greatest Master of the Kum Kapi School, London 1993; Farrow, G, ‘Kum Kapi Masters’, Hali, 1989, issue 46, p.11. and Bensoussan, Pamela, ‘The Masterweavers of Istanbul’, Hali, 1985, issue 26, p. 38.