Mihaliççik Prayer Rug

Second half 19th century, 122 x 100 cm, Western Central Anatolia, Eskisehir province

The small town of Mihaliççik situated east of Eskisehir, once home to a mixed Greek and Turkish population, was almost completely destroyed in 1921 during the retreat of the invading Greek troops. It is thus not surprising that so few antique Mihaliççik rugs have survived. Design features characteristic of these small prayer rugs are the red mihrab field containing large blossoms, the unstepped hooked arch, the design of small polychrome triangles above it and the black-brown border decorated with a two-dimensional leaf-and-calyx vine reminiscent of Caucasian carpets. – Corroded and partially repiled black-brown sections, good overall condition, original finishes all around.

BUTTERWECK, GEORG & ORASCH, DIETER, Das Standardwerk des anatolischen Knüpfteppichs. Zentral-Anatolien. Wien 1986, Nr.204 *** REINISCH, HELMUT UND LISBETH, Von Bagdad nach Stambul. Nomadenteppiche. Graz 1983, Nr.40 *** BESIM, ADIL (Hrsg.), Mythos und Mystik. Alte und antike Textilkunst. Band 1 Wien 1998, Nr.5