Rug

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This woollen rug was made in the 17th century, probably in Usak in Western Turkey, a production centre of carpets since the late 15th century. Such rugs are known in Europe as 'Holbein' rugs due to their repeated appearance in paintings by this artist and indeed many English and Dutch paintings from around 1605 to 1665.

The rug shows a field of repeating abstract arabesque pattern, rendered in light colour with blue detailing against a deep red ground. The border shows a succession of interconnected medallions with abstracted central motif. Note how the lower and upper ends of the lateral borders do not meet the top and bottom border in a continuous pattern as should be expected. Obviously, the weaver miscalculated or disregarded the space available in planning out the border design. Most probably the weaver worked from memory and not from a model pattern.

Turkey has a long history of carpet weaving which still presents many problems concerning origin and date.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-180-001-243-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  A.1931.218
• Date: 17th century
  
• Material: Wool
  
• Dimensions: 66.00" x 44.00" D
  
• What:
• Subject: Textiles
  
• Who: W. von Dirksen
  
• Where: ASIA MINOR: Ushak
  
• Event:
• Description: Woollen rug showing a field of repeating arabesque pattern in differnt colours, known as 'Holbein' rugs, formerly in the collection of W. von Dirksen: Asia Minor, Ushak, 17th century
  
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