Green Ground Group B Ghiordes Prayer Rug
N°
00694
Period
Circa 1750
Origin
Anatolia
Status
Available
Size
183 cm x 125 cm6'0" x 4'1"
Here we have another type of floral border, decorated by a motif called elmali (‘apple’ in Turkish) which appear to me more as a pair of pomegranates connected to a sickle leaf. It too belongs to Group B, with all of the ivories being in cotton, although here are used as accents rather than as a background. I am especially fascinated by the colour contrast between the moss green of the niche and the light turquoise shade of the field, which can be seen clearly in the spandrels. The latter are embellished by a very unusual, dynamic motif which imparts an upwards dynamics to the composition. I certainly understand why these rugs were so passionately collected by the generation of James Ballard, Joseph McMullan and many others.
- Warp: wool, ivory
- Weft: wool and cotton, ivory, 2 shots between knotted rows
- Knot: symmetrical, weaving direction is opposite to niche, slight warp depression
- Knot count: 11H x 17V = 197 knots/square inch
- Selvages: cylindrical, ivory cotton over one set of paired warps
- Ends: remnants of ivory weft-faced plain weave at both ends
- Colours: moss green, red, maroon, ivory (cotton), black, turquoise, medium blue, yellow, grey green, taupe (10)
- Condition: visible areas of heavy wear, old patch restoration in the niche