A Konya Carpet Fragment, late 18th century

A Rare Konya Carpet Fragment
Konya region, Central Anatolia
Late 18th century
3 ft 9 ins by 3 ft 8 ½ ins (114.5 cm. x 113 cm.)

RELATED LITERATURE:
Heinrich Kirchheim, et. al., 'Orient Stars'. Stuttgart and London, 1993, p. 213, no. 138 (illus.)

This attractive fragment comes from a longer runner and is decorated with a large blue-red diamond medallion with an inner field of yellow and an outer one of brown/aubergine, within a border of eight-pointed star cartouches, and end-lappets of alternating trident-filled arches and simple mihrabs, all on a tomato red ground.

The design in this fragment is almost identical to and slightly better drawn than that in a Konya runner illustrated in Heinrich Kirchheim, et. al., Orient Stars (op. cit.), which also exhibits alternating blue-red and red-blue diamond medallions divided into five sections with vertical blossoms on leafless stems, as well as a similar border and end lappets.

This lovely fragment could be hung on a wall to make an eye-catching piece of wall art.