NOTES
This carpet was probably woven in central Anatolia, now part of Konya, Turkey’s largest province. The harmonious design originates from 15th-century Islamic bookbinding, but the hyacinth sprays attached to each pendant are purely16th-century Ottoman in origin. The field is the most important element, while the border serves as a picture frame. The red ground and blue flower pattern is typical of such carpets. The symmetry of the field is precise, but the end panels featuring stylized tulips are completely random in coloration.
The Ghiordes knot (also known as the Turkish knot) was used to create this carpet. The process entails passing the colored weft yarn over the two warp yarns, pulling it through between them, and then cutting the yarn to form the pile. In this example, there are approximately 112 knots per inch.
