A SELENDI 'BIRD' CARPET FRAGMENT, OUSHAK REGION, WEST ANATOLIA |

Krikor Markarian, New York, 1999

Ellis, Charles Grant, Oriental Carpets in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, 1988, fig. 19b., p.58; formerly Piero Barbieri, Genoa, Italy.

Overall measurements: 137cm across the top, 136cm across the bottom, 219cm the left hand side, 223cm the right hand side. Missing one long side border and upper border and possibly reduced in length at upper edge? Upper left hand corner is re-woven approximately 76cm down the side of the field and 66cm across the top as an irregular triangle, upper edge guard stripe rewoven and with reweavings jutting into edge of field, lower end guard stripe mainly rewoven, re-weavings and re-piling scattered throughout. Strong drawing and colour. Would likely improve with professional cleaning.
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This evocative Oushak white ground carpet design with the 'bird' motif (abstract foliate motif) creating a lattice which alternates with rosettes and angular leaves, is from a recognisable group of classical weavings from West Anatolia. The 'bird' motifs are typically yellow and it is more unusual to have red. There are variations of the border type used, and they include the cloudband border. In the 16th century these Ottoman Oushak white ground pieces were recorded in the Habsburg courts, and were depicted in European paintings from the mid 16th to first half of 17th century, the earliest recorded being a portrait by Hans Mielich, from 1557. Together with contemporary 'Transylvanian' rugs they have survived in the Protestant churches of Transylvania (modern day Romania), having been given as gifts by wealthy Burghers.

Other comparables include two similar examples in The Joseph Lees Memorial Collection, Philadelphia Museum of Art, both European Turkey (Wallachia, Romania), 17th century. One with yellow 'bird' motifs, and similar border with all palmettes outward facing (202 by 198cm): Inv. 55-65-11, and another smaller example (175 by 130cm): Inv.43-28-2, with palmettes in outward orientation in the side borders and inward in the top and bottom borders, see Ellis (1988), nos. 16 & 17, pp.48-59.    

Ellis (1988): Ellis, Charles Grant, Oriental Carpets in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, 1988, nos. 16 & 17, pp.48-59.