Kula Prayer Rug

18th century, 184 x 132 cm, West Anatolia, Manisa province

The workshops of the West Anatolian town of Kula specialised in prayer rugs woven in precisely drawn column designs. The type harks back to older Ottoman models. – A triple-niche arch is supported by two white columns embellished with flowers which stand out strikingly against the open red ground of the field. The central niche is considerably larger and has a floral bouquet suspended from its apex. The broad panel placed above the arch structure is light blue and densely filled with carnations in dusky pink and red brown. A narrow panel of stylised animal figures placed above it completes the field. In the dark blue main border, the flowering shrubs drawn in pastel shades are positioned upside down, a feature that is not unusual in these carpets. – Extraordinarily well preserved in view of its great age, original finishes all around.

DIMAND, MAURICE S., The Ballard Collection of Oriental Rugs in the City Art Museum of St. Louis. St. Louis 1935, Tf.XLI *** IONESCU, STEFANO (Hrsg.), Die osmanischen Teppiche in Siebenbürgen. Rom 2006, Kat.225, S.173