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Sotheby's Auctions » Fine Oriental and
European Rugs and Carpets » lot 70
Sale L01342 .
An Ushak 'Lotto' fragmentary carpet
London, New Bond Street 20,000—30,000 GBP Session 1
02 May 01 2:00 PM
DESCRIPTION
An Ushak 'Lotto' fragmentary carpet
West Anatolia
late 17th century
282 by 232 cm., 9 ft. 3 in. by 7 ft. 8 in.
Technical Analysis:
Warp: Wool, ivory, ivory and brown, Z2S, alternately
slightly depressed
Weft: Wool, terracotta, Z, 2 shoots, 'lazy lines'
Pile: Wool, Z2S
Knotting: Symmetric, V/Hcm: 4/3
Sidecords: Not present
Ends: Not present
Colours: Madder red, lemon yellow, saffron yellow, mid
blue, light blue, light madder, green, purple, ivory,
dark brown (10)
The distinctive group of 'arabesque' or 'Lotto' Ushaks,
so called after their celebrated depiction in the
paintings of the Venetian artist Lorenzo Lotto (1480 -
1556) and his peers, are perhaps, the most recognisable
and iconic of all Anatolian weavings. For a discussion of
the dating of 'Lotto' Ushak rugs through their appearance
in paintings, see: Mills, J., 'Lotto' Carpets in Western
Paintings, Hali, Vol. 3, No. 4., pp. 278-289. According
to the criteria specified by Charles Grant Ellis in 'The
'Lotto' Pattern as a Fashion in Carpets', Hamburg, 1975,
classifying these carpets by design into three distinct
subgroups: 'Anatolian', 'kilim' and 'ornamented', the
present lot is typical of the 'Anatolian' set. For a
related late 16th / early 17th century carpet with an
'Anatolian'-design field and a cartouche border in the
Museo del Bargello, Florence, Inv. No. 68, see: Hali,
Issue 83, p. 84-6, pl.9.
The current carpet displays a magnificent green ground
cartouche border, also seen on two examples in the
Textile Museum, Washington D. C. (see: Mackie, Louise W.,
The Splendour of Turkish Weaving, The Textile Museum,
Washington D. C., 1973, No. 30, p. 33, pl. IV, and No.
31, pp.33-4 and 73). Two small fragments in the Keir
Collection (see: Spuhler, Friedrich, Islamic Carpets and
Textiles in the Keir Collection, London, 1978, Nos. 18
and 19, p.45,) and a magnificent large scale carpet sold
at Sotheby's, New York, 10th April 1975, lot 215, also
exhibit similar borders.
Although instantly recognisable and seemingly identical,
each 'Lotto' Ushak weaving is intrinsically individual
and rewards further contemplation. This example is
unusual for its glorious border, broad and saturated
colour palette and bold yet sophisticated design.
Seen on: www.Sothebys.com
Thanks and best wishes,
J. Barry O'Connell Jr.
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