ca. 1900, 258 x 153 cm, East Anatolia, Van

As far as we are aware, there are no comparative examples of this very rare rug in publications, and initially its provenance was puzzling. A dense repeat of small rosettes in subdued colours covers the whole of the dark brown field. The wide red border of large hexagons with white hooked outlines that alternate with pairs of geometric forms brings to mind Baluch weavings. The secondary border of reciprocal hooks in red and white are a typical Baluch feature, but are also often encountered in rugs woven by the Khorasan Kurds. Eventually, the four white Armenian letters at the upper end of the field provided the decisive clue: "I Van". According to information provided by the Armenian specialists we consulted, the inscription translates as "from Van" and proves that the rug was woven in the city of Van in eastern Anatolia. Until 1915, it had a largely Armenian population and was a centre of carpet weaving. We would like to thank Mr. Arto Tavukciyan for his valuable advice. â€â€œ Repiled lower finish, largely repiled upper finish. Major repiled areas in the left-hand border section. Otherwise well preserved, with a high pile and the original selvedges.

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