Textiles Studies
Date of this Version
8-1996
Document Type
Article
Citation
Ghereh, International Carpet & Textile Review, August 1996, pp. 98-100.
Abstract
Among the two hundred lots offered oh the block by Christie's from Bernheimer Family Collection of Rugs in February 1996, a small shaped rug with white ground was acquired by the Textile Museum. The rug was Lot 192, published in the catalogue as an East Persian saddle rug dating to the 19th century. The Textile Museum's interest in the piece was sparked by my hunch, based upon its design, that this rug is far more significant than its published attribution might suggest. A carefully conceived trefoil scroll implies a Timurid heritage. To read the design correctly, it should probably have been exhibited and published the other way around (as seen here). The rug is small (cm 73x76) and woven to shape in the form of an extended semicircle. It has an ivory field that may have ori - inally had three narrow yellow bands outlined in black. The otherwise open central field is surrounded by a single border of trefoils alternating with trefoil in a shield , executed in blue pile on a (faded) yellow field . The border itself is defined by a thin black outline of knots. Along the inner edge of the border are two split leaf arabesque scroll . difficult to discern. One shows red leaves on a blue ground, the other shows white leave outlined in black. My initial hunch of an early date and a stron Timurid heritage is supported by my preliminary investigations, which lead me toque - tion the attribution given this rug by Christie 's.
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