Carpet Made by Bezalel – Abraham's Tamarisk, Mount Sinai and Herzl's Cedar – Jerusalem, Early 20th Century

A carpet made by Bezalel. Jerusalem, [ca. 1906 to 1914]. Wool on cotton. The carpet depicts a triple arch arcade. In each opening there is a symbol representing one of the forefathers of the Jewish nation and its leaders: Abraham's Tamarisk on the right, Mount Sinai in the center and Herzl's Cedar (presented here, as in many other cases, as a cypress) on the left. A decorated frame surrounds the arcade; the Hebrew inscription "Bezalel Jerusalem" appears on its lower part. In this carpet, the designer positions Herzl – both physically and metaphorically – in line with Abraham, the nation’s forefather, and Moses, its biblical leader. Like Abraham's Tamarisk and Mount Sinai, which symbolizes Moses, the cedar planted by Herzl is depicted on the background of the desert. Approx. 89X55 cm. Good condition. The fringes along the edges of the carpet are torn and mostly missing. Color overflow on the upper-right margins. Some repairs. Some staining, mostly to the margins. Suspension straps sewn along the verso upper edge of the carpet. Literature: Jewish Carpets, by Anton Felton. London: Antique Collectors' Club, 1997. p.100. Provenance: The Anton Felton Collection.