Early 20th Century Anatolian Carpet

Anatolia, the western region of Turkey, has a long-standing rug-weaving tradition, dating at least as far back as the 13th Century.

As the explorer Marco Polo once wrote, 'Here they make the most beautiful silks and carpets, and in the most beautiful colours.'

It is these carpets, among the first to reach the European market in the Early Modern era, that can be spotted in many of the paintings of the Old Masters, including those of Holbein, Vermeer, and Reubens. This early 20th Century piece is an exquisite example, showcasing the creative flair usually found in earlier, mid-19th-century carpet.

The artist has employed a simple, elegant composition in the central field, with a terracotta medallion in the centre, flanked by spandrels worked in a stunning sky blue colour, all in gracefully aged vegetable dyes. The border shows a great sense of creative freedom, comprised of four parts, each decorated with complex irregular geometric and floral patterns, repeated in an incredible variety of forms and colours.

A remarkable piece, in very good condition for everyday use, retaining its beautiful original outer borders on all sides, to add character to any setting.