A SILK YARKAND CARPET, EAST TURKESTAN |

silk pile on cotton foundation

The Textile Gallery Hugh M. Moss Ltd, London, 1973

World of Rugs, Exhibition, The Textile Gallery Hugh M. Moss Ltd, 12 Bruton Street, London, 1973

Franses, Michael, Fengruan rutan: Silk pile covers from Western China’, Fourth Hali Annual, London, 1997, pp.84-107, p. 106, fig. 28
Schürmann, Ulrich, Central Asian Rugs, Frankfurt am Main, 1969, Chp. III, East Turkestan Rugs, pp. 41-46, & 161, Plate 81
Spuhler, Friedrich, The Thyssen –Bornemisza Collection, Carpets and Textiles, London, 1998, Carpets, East Turkestan silk carpets [48-52], pp.184-205, p. 200, No. 51
Thompson, Jon, Silk Carpets and the silk road, Osaka, NHK Culture Center, Osaska, 1988, p.53, No. 51

Measurements approximately 233cm wide across the top, 233cm. across the bottom, 316cm along left side, 319cm along right side. Thick glossy silk pile, foundation is clearly weak as there is extensive patching on the reverse with consolidation stitching securing the pile to the backing, there are half a dozen noticeable areas with coloured backing where there is pile missing, splitting small patch in lower side of right hand border, carpet looks as if it was very dirty at one time (still ingrained dirt visible on back) which was probably reason foundation became so weak. Would benefit from professional conservation. Still very beautiful.
"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."

The ‘vase and pomegranate design’ is one of the most distinctive designs of the East Turkestan carpet group and one of the oldest motifs, partly due to the symbolism of being associated with fertility, and consequently popular across the region in the decorative arts. The carpets were woven in both silk and wool piles, usually found with a blue field (occasionally yellow, ivory or red) with the overall ‘overlaid’ pomegranate and vase pattern, with three pronged leaves, and a distinct axis with symmetrical design, and archaic style border. There are slight differences in designs, sizes and contrasting colours, with the earliest pieces being a single pomegranate plant and vase in a narrow, sometimes white field, the rug by which the standard is set being an 18th century example in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London (Inv. 1883, 102 by 157cm: illustrated Schürmann (1969), p.168, No.88). In the stylistic development pieces of the 19^th century always have opposing pomegranate shrubs, and pair of shrubs emanating from vases at both ends, which face each other, as in the present example. For examples of early yellow ground, vase pomegranate pattern pieces, see a Yarkand carpet, 18^th century (410 by 201cm), and Khotan rug, 17^th/18^th century (265 by 117cm), with single pomegranate plant, see Bidder (1979), pp.43-85, 1., &, pp.49-53, figs. plates II & III.  The present carpet has inner and outer borders influenced by traditional Chinese geometric fretwork patterns, and including the diaper pattern, and the interlocking 'T' pattern respectively.    This striking and elegant carpet on the yellow ground, is more unusual, and co-incidentally the dying methods for producing the distinctive yellow, involved using the husk of the pomegranate. It is therefore a rare example of its type, in this colour and of this size.   

 

Schürmann (1969): Schürmann, Ulrich, Central Asian Rugs, Frankfurt am Main, 1969, Chp. III, East Turkestan Rugs, pp. 41-46, & 161, Plate 81, middle of 19^th century

Spuhler (1998): Spuhler, Friedrich, The Thyssen –Bornemisza Collection, Carpets and Textiles, London, 1998, Carpets, East Turkestan silk carpets [48-52], pp.184-205, p. 200, No. 51, 19^th century

Thompson (1988): Thompson, Jon, Silk Carpets and the silk road, Osaka, NHK Culture Center, Osaska, 1988, p.53, No. 51

Franses (1997): Franses, Michael, Fengruan rutan: Silk pile covers from Western China’, Fourth Hali Annual, London, 1997, pp.84-107, p. 106, fig. 28

Konig (1975): Konig, Hans, Beziehungen Zwischen den Teppichen Ostturkestans und Moghulindiens, “Festschrift fur Peter Wilhelm Meister, zum 65. Geburstag Hamburg, 1975, pp. 32-40, fig. 5

Bidder (1979): Bidder, Hans, Carpets from Eastern Turkestan, Washington International Associates, Tübingen, 1979, Chp.III, The Khotan Carpets, pp.43-85,  1., ‘The Vase-Pomegranate pattern’, pp.49-53, figs. 5 & 6, plates I-III