18

Star Ushak

New

345 x 173 cm (11' 4" x 5' 8")
Turkey, 17th century
Condition: used, low pile, sides and ends incomplete, scattered small holes, several old repairs and reweavings
Warp: wool, weft: wool, pile: wool

Ushak carpets were produced in the Ottoman Empire beginning in the 15th century and appear in European paintings as early as the first half of the 16th century. The best-known example is undoubtedly the painting by Paris Bordone in Venice, which was commissioned in 1534 and completed in 1545.

The most common are medallion Ushaks, which were produced from the 15th through the 18th century. Star Ushaks, on the other hand, were produced only until the 17th century. They feature an endless repeat pattern of eight-pointed stars and rhombuses; the ground, usually red, is covered with floral tendrils. The design was developed by Ottoman court artists, who were well acquainted with Persian carpets of the period.

The most beautiful carpet of this type is certainly the one illustrated in McMullan, "Islamic Carpets," 1965, no. 67.
One difference between that carpet and the present example - as well as almost all other star Ushaks - is that the McMullan carpet shows more of the medallions' cut edges, which further enhances the impression of an endless repeat.

The most common border on star Ushaks features cloud bands. The so-called Gothic border, which our piece also features,
is likewise found on a Star Ushak that we successfully sold on September 16, 2014, for €122,000 and which is now in the Arkas Collection in Izmir; see HALI 216, p. 104, right.

Estimate: € 30000 - 40000


Startpreis / Startingbid

18 000 €