First half 18th century, 290 x 96 cm, Central Anatolia, Cappadocia

Very rare and possibly unique, this Cappadocian rug entered the Wollheim Collection through Ulrich Schürmann during the Sixties. The red field is dominated by two large octagons with a blue and corn yellow ground respectively. They each enclose a huge eight-pointed star of striking shape; the same design is seen in a fragment from the "Orient Stars" collection (no. 143). The tips of the stars bear long hooks, and five smaller stars complete the interior design. Each octagon is associated with four lateral triangles which serve as cornerstones, as it were, defining an imaginary rectangular space. – At the beginning of the field, beneath the blue octagon, we encounter two slim white designs, each with a tip and lateral hooks (possibly animal-tree motifs?), which occur in a similar form in the Bellini rug from the "Orient Stars" Collection (no. 189), although in the latter they appear in a different context beneath the tip of the mihrab. Two large cross devices have been inserted between the octagons. – The long and narrow format is characteristic of village weavings from Central Anatolia. However, our Aksaray differs significantly from the re-entrant principle and symmetrical composition used in almost all of these village rugs. Neither the golden yellow elem of shield forms and small trees nor the wide dark brown panel showing three cartouches at the beginning of the field are repeated at the upper end. The surviving original kilim finish with purple wefts proves that nothing is missing at the top. – Obvious signs of age, several old repairs and repiled sections, replaced selvedges.

KIRCHHEIM, E. HEINRICH, Orient Stars. Eine Teppichsammlung. Stuttgart-London 1993, nos. 143 and 189