A Ladik prayer rug, Central Anatolia

Pile generally good approximately 1/8th of an inch overall with areas of foldwear and oxidized browns low to knotheads. A 3in. by 3in. stepped reweave to center of rug and a 3in. by 2in. rectangular reweave to top of prayer arch. Some further scattered smaller reweaves, not extensive. Some scattered repiling. Lower end missing outer guard stripes and part of guard border, now bound. Upper end with a very small reweave to left corner and now with original kilim finish secured with a blanket stitch. Sides lacking outside guard stripes and a few rows of knots to guard borders. Flexible handle; lustrous wool; good pile; very good colors.
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.

The present lot at first appears to be an archetypical Ladik prayer rug. However, after looking at it a second time one realizes that the lack of certain design elements and the unusual main border render this rug atypical. The blue spandrels under the usual flowering tulips are left undecorated: a feature that is unusual for Ladik prayer rugs, as these weavings are almost always densely decorated with a variety of design elements in the said area. As the spandrels are left completely empty, the saturated colors of this lot, which are a hallmark of Ladik weavings, become even more powerful and impactful (similarly to lot 113 in this sale). The border is also exceptionally bold. In her article entitled “Ladik prayer rugs” (Hali, issue 28, pp. 18-25), Julia Bailey describes the three different main border designs found in Ladik rugs. With its enclosed niches containing stylized flowers, the main border of this lot does not fit any of Bailey’s descriptions, making this rug very uncommon. For an almost identical Ladik prayer rug, with basically the same main and guard border and empty spandrels, see Sotheby’s New York, December 3, 1988, lot 7 and Eberhart Herrmann, Asiatische Teppich- und Textilkunst, vol. 2, Munich, 1990, p. 28.