A West Anatolian rug fragment, possibly Gördes region

acquired from Gary Muse, London, 1989

San Francisco, M. H. de Young Museum, The Christopher Alexander Collection, November 1990 - February 1991.

Alexander, C., A Foreshadowing of 21^st Century Art The Color and Geometry of Very Early Turkish Carpets, New York, 1993, pp. 150 - 153, ill pp. 78, 87, 150 & 153 (all details), 151 & 349 (shown in the San Francisco M. H. de Young Museum, 1990/91). Alexander. C., 'Early Turkish Rugs A New Way of Looking', Hali, April, 1991, issue 56, p. 119.

'The Exhibitions', Hali, issue 53, October 1990, p. 240.

The brown cotton backing 176 by 120.5cm The fragment: 86cm across the top, 65cm and 87cm across the bottom, 118cm and 136cm the left hand side, 120cm and 133cm the right hand side. The red in the field is a little warm in the printed catalogue image. Pile varies from knotheads generally to 1mm in minor areas, for example in the upper right green rosette. The reverse not visible, however by the feel of the front there are no obvious repairs to the browns. Wonderful colours. An image which outlines the below notes can be requested via the department - 1) Three squared cut sections, the larger approx. 13 by 10cm, the smaller in the field 3.5 by 3cm and the one at the upper end to the right within the brown border 3.5 by 2cm 2) Loose warps 3) Split repair, approx. 12cm
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In his extensive discussion on this fragment Alexander focuses on the design, as one might expect. He does not suggest a weaving centre but ascribes it to West Anatolia. On close inspection however the design, if not the dyes, has most in common with Gördes double niche rugs from circa 1800. An example demonstrating this likeness is published Spuhler. F., Oriental Carpets in the Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin, London, 1988, pp. 46, 47, 181, pl. 38. The Spuhler example shares a highly similar central medallion design, lacking the ‘S’ shaped surround but these motifs are seen in each of the mihrabs, and the zigzag borders bear a relation. It is very unlikely that the present lot is a Gördes weaving, but it is interesting to note the relationship and apparent influence it has had.