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The rug featured here dates from the decorative period between 1908 and 1918. The pattern and dyes used help distinquish the unique era from which the rug originates. Woven in three 36 inch widths and sown together, The Hardwick & Magee catalog on the right dates from 1913, during the period of the fine wilton carpet shown here. Along with their contemporaries, A&M Karagheusian, Whittall, Bigelow, Hartford Saxony, and others, each company offered imported carpets in small numbers and the comparable quality and similar patterns in their own exceptional quality weavings from their very own looms here in America. The most popular of these weaves were the wilton and axminister.
The Saz-style border of this remarkable carpet follows the original village workshop interpretation of an Ottoman court atelier design that first appeared around 1550. Notable for their dense, lush array of baroque saz leaves and hayati motifs including palmettes and rosettes of lotus and peony decorated with a profusion of hyacinths, pinks, roses, carnations and tulips, the saz group is typified by a 16th century Ottoman prayer rug from the Ballard Collection, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Collection of Oriental Rugs, New York, 1923 no. 24, p.15. In its present incarnation on this unconventionally large format weaving, the design is less rounded and rhythmic, bolder, simpler and more vibrant, less painterly and more tactile. The decorative motifs of the central field: pendant hanging lamps, rosettes and amorphous guls, are synonymous with 16/17th century Western Anatolian weaving, found on both 'small medallion' and 're-entrant' rugs from Oushak and Bergama, for examples see: Ellis (ibid.), fig. 30b and Sotheby's London, 15 October 1997, lot 42. The scale of ornament in border, spandrels, medallion and field motif is homogenous and integrated within keeping of the current Arts & Crafts period style and era of this carpet. The expert handling of an essentially Ottoman court atelier design remains inspired and lively. With this singular carpet the unusual combination of disparate yet individually significative motifs are here successfully combined in a truely holistic entity.
CONDITION: The has both full pile, particularly in the border areas, and low area within the field. One corner shows light tinting. The original fringe was completely missing -- we recommend removing the existing fringe and replacing it with a more appropriate fringe (please see our Shaneybrook geuine wilton fringes in the services section of this site). CLEANING: This rug has been professionally hand cleaned by our own conservation team with a restorative thorough washing adhering to We are proud to be the only dealers to honestly show our thorough hand washing completed on every rug we offer. You can be assured your getting the only gaurenteed thoroughly hand washed rug on ebay. We gladly show our methods so you know your not being lied to or taken advantage of. Other, online sellers and rug dealers claim they hand wash their rugs and use "middle eastern additives" to enhance the colour of their rugs. We do not use ANY optical enhancers of any kind (natural or chemical). Optical enhancers damage and pull dye to the surface of the rug's fibres, slowly stripping colour and character from the wool as the rug continues to age. Beware of descriptions claiming use of such materials and harsh cleaning methods to "brighten, add a sheen, or antique wash" the rugs -- all these methods deteriorate and damage these wonderful vintage and antique pieces beyond repair.
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From the Sotheby's spring 2003 catalog:
