An unusually small Oushak Medallion carpet, West Anatolia

Overall measurements: 164cm across the top, 170cm across the bottom, 362cm along left side, 360cm along right side Very low pile overall, down to knotheads generally and foundation in areas, for example in the lower central portion of the lower half of the field. Some repairs to areas of foundation, particularly just below the main central medallion. Outer end guard stripes removed at both ends, with trimmed warped fringe. Side guards partially reduced in width and strengthened with white cotton tape stitched to reverse, no overcasting. Inspection advised. Very unusual small size, extremely finely drawn.
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The Classical early Oushak medallion carpets are well documented through Western paintings from as early as the 1570 through to the second half of the 17^th century, and occasionally appearing in the 18^th century, which is confirmation that they were exported from Turkey during this period and were highly prized in the west. The field design remains broadly consistent through this period, although border styles vary and the quality of weaving and drawing declines in later examples. The border type of the present carpet is the more unusual design used.

For a comparable single medallion carpet of the late 16^th century, see ‘ The Cassirer Oushak Medallion Carpet’, From the Collection of Baroness Gabrielle Bentinck-Thyssen, Sotheby’s, London, 24^th April 1996, lot 253. Further comparables are listed in the more extensive Catalogue Note for this lot on sothebys.com. All the comparables cited share a similar border design to that used on the Cassirer Carpet. For a border design of similar conception to that of the present carpet (although more stylised), see a Triple Medallion Oushak carpet, circa 1600 (410 by 208cm), illustrated in Völker, Angela, Die Orientalischen Knüpfteppiche im MAK (Österreichisches Museum für angewandte Kunst), Vienna, No.15, pp.82-83., Inv.No. Or 298/ 1891/ 1907 HM.13808. For another medallion carpet, early 16^th C., with a similar border to the offered lot, see Spuhler, Friedrich, Carpets from Islamic Lands (Dar al Athar al-Islamiyyah), The Al-Sabah Collection, Kuwait, London, 2012, Part II Classical Carpets, pp.50-55, Cat.No.7 (Inv.no. LNS 26R), and comparable border on a Star Ushak, circa 1700 Cat.No.6 (Inv.no. LNS 17R), pp.46-49.

Further Literature:
For discussion of 16^th - 17^th century Classical Oushak carpets, see Oktay, Aslanapa, One Thousand Years of Turkish Carpets, Istanbul, 1988, Chp. V, pp.103-136, Medallion carpets, pp.103-107, and Erdmann, Kurt, The History of the Early Turkish Carpet, London, 1977, pl.34 (for the Cassirer Medallion Carpet).