This rug’s starkly contrasting motif echoes the sacred architecture of central Anatolia in deeply saturated hues of undyed wool and mohair.
Wool Chiaroscuro
The rug’s sumptuously thick pile is reassuring underfoot, handwoven from a blend of wool and silky mohair. The two starkly contrasting hues are the natural color of lustrous fibers meticulously sorted by hand. The result is a motif rendered in deep, midnight black and a walnut-husk beige, equal parts attractive and dramatic.
The motif is a reference to the sacred architecture of the Ottoman world. It takes the shape of a mihrab, or prayer arch, the focal point of a congregational mosque that orients the faithful at times of prayer. (Petsopoulos, Kilim: Masterpieces from Turkey, 1991, p. 36-38).
The arches can also be interpreted as a profile view of a domed mosque capped with a finial in the shape of a crescent moon. The profile view of a mosque is a rug motif rarely seen outside Karapinar (Edgü, Tülü: Karapinar Carpets (The Collection of Dr. Ayan Gülgönen), 1989, p. 60-63).
A Regional Weaving Traditional
This rug is a tülü, a thick-pile weaving from Karapinar, in south-central Turkey’s Konya Province. These rugs were woven primarily by ethnic Turkmen for domestic use. Without commercial pressures, weavers were able to forgo classical rug motifs and instead relied on intuition, memory, and creative inspiration to create new compositions (Tülü: Karapinar Carpets, iv-ix).
Condition and Use
This rug is in excellent condition. It exhibits little evidence of past use. It will withstand normal wear, although some shedding of loose fiber can be expected. A rug pad is recommended for use on hard-surface flooring.
