Object Description
Fine Anatolian Long Carpet
3.48 x 2.13 m
Anatolia, the western region of Turkey, has a long-standing rug-weaving tradition, dating at least as far back as the 13th Century. As the explorer Marco Polo once wrote, ‘Here they make the most beautiful silks and carpets, and in the most beautiful colours.’ It is these carpets, among the first to reach the European market in the Early Modern era, that can be spotted in many of the paintings of the Old Masters, including those of Holbein, Vermeer, and Reubens.
This sophisticated early 20th Century example employs a large-scale graphic drawing in the central field – a bold composition relative to its size – in an earthy palette, including shades of muted caramel, ivory, and soft grey, owing to the colour of the natural, undyed wool used in its weave, and lending this piece a sense of understated grace.
In very good condition for everyday use, retaining its outer borders and fringes on all sides.
A handsome piece, combining a tribal charm and character with a refined, timeless aesthetic, and with the versatility either to blend in with a classic setting or add personality to a more contemporary interior.