Transylvanian Prayer Rug
West Anatolia, late 17th century
172 x 127 cm (5' 8" x 4' 2")
Condition: good according to age, pile low in places, corroded brown, some small repairs and reweaves, both kilim ends oridinal, selvedges mostly original
Warp: wool, weft: wool, pile: wool

This splendid little late 17th-century 'Transylvanian' prayer rug, with a serrated leaf and carnation spandrel design above the stepped, undecorated beige prayer niche, is in immaculate condition.
An independent border system separates the red field from the wide and richly decorated pale yellow primary border, in which a sickle leaf, hyacinth and tulip floral spray meander holds alternating eight-lobed rosettes and pine-cone palmettes.
The rug also has a very interesting back showing prominent diagonal 'lazy lines', one of the best demonstrations possible of this technical weaving refinement (see HALI 129, p. 15), which can also be seen from the front at the lower end of the open field.
The rug was bought at Rippon Boswell in May 2003 (HALI 130, p. 123), when it was stated in the catalogue to be from Melas, though some experts would assign it further north to Gördes. In its combination of design features, including minor border patterns, it most closely resembles three of the prayer rugs illustrated by Stefano Ionescu in "Antique Ottoman Rugs in Transylvania, 2005", No. 171, in the Superior Consistory, Sibiu; No. 172, in the Black Church, Brasov; and No. 176, also in Brsov, all of which Ionescu dates to the second half of the 17th century.