A BERGAMA 'BELLINI' RE-ENTRANT RUG, WEST ANATOLIA |

Louise Woodhead

Herrmann. E., Seltene Orienteppiche X, Munich, 1988, pp. 42 & 43, no. 15.

Overall measurements: 143cm across the top, 153cm across the bottom, 202cm the left hand side, 203cm the right hand side. Pile generally 2-4 mm in depth, the blues and greens being higher than reds and whites. Overall in very good condition for age. There are some very small scattered cobbled repairs and some areas of repiling, the most extensive being through the lower left hand quarter of the central medallion and about half of the lower left hand red triangle adjacent. Other than this there are several minor areas of repiling scattered through the rug; these have been extremely well executed and are not visible to the naked eye - there are photographs available from the department showing these repairs under black light, please email stephanie.douglas@sothebys.com, or harry.grenfell@sothebys.com if additional photographs are required. The unusual striated greens in the upper half of teh field appear to be entirely consistent in colour with the greens in the lower part of the field and do not show as later colour under black light. Very good provenance (Louise Woodhead), published by Herrmann 30 years ago.
"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."

These types of re-entrant rugs are sometimes referred to as ‘Bellini’ rugs due to their depiction by Gentile Bellini, in the late 15^th century, also ‘Keyhole’. The present rug has a very similar comparable published in Spuhler (1978), pp. 76 & 77, pl. 24 and pp. 78 & 79, pl. 25. It is of a highly similar cartoon to the present with only slight variants in the motifs but with a clear correlation to the present lot. The notable differences are within the border where the Spuhler/König/Volkmann example is composed of alternating quatrefoil and angular leaf motifs the present has the same quatrefoil, in ivory, and orange and green serrated lozenges. The above cited example with smaller motifs in the four corners of the field and the present with larger geometric shapes. The dyes used are also clearly from a very similar region, if not workshop, however have been interposed, for example within the field of the present lot the upper and lower end are predominantly green the centre is madder ground, whereas in the cited example is largely madder ground with green spandrels in the centre; the referenced comparable is also dated to the 18^th century. Another variant of this group was formerly in the Joseph V. McMullan Collection now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, acc. no. 1974.149.26, although this example differs in its use of dyes. Interestingly the present lot has some associations with the ‘Keyhole’ rugs from Konya, see both examples in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Istanbul, Kirchheim (1996), pp 186 & 187, pls. 131 & 132. There are clear differences, both the TIEM examples are also probably earlier in dating, in the use of colours but it is interesting to see the overall correlation in design, especially some of the minor motifs such as the hooked motifs near the lozenge medallion, which also has similarities. Another ‘Bellini’ rug sold Sotheby’s New York, 14 December 2006, lot 142, for $14,400, possibly a little earlier in dating, circa 1700, however with clear losses and fading.

Spuhler (1978): Spuhler. F., König. H., Volkmann. M., Alte Orientteppiche Meisterstücke aus deutschen Privatsammlungen, Munich, 1978, pp. 76 & 77, pl. 24 and pp. 78 & 79, pl. 25.

Kirchheim (1996): Kirchheim, H., Turkish Carpets from 13th - 18th centuries, Istanbul 1996, Istanbul 1996, pp 186 & 187, pls. 131 & 132.