Period: early 19th century
Dimensions: cm 190 x 383
Oriental Yarkand carpet in silk (East Turkestan) – 235
Description
Oriental Yarkand carpet in silk (East Turkestan)
Period: early 19th century
Dimensions: cm 190 x 383
Made in the early 19th century, this fine silk carpet is of a type clearly characterised by its pomegranate design: the artwork depicts stylised pomegranate plants growing out of two pairs of vases, one on each of the shorter sides, before meeting in the middle of the carpet.
Due to the excellent condition of the pile on this specimen, the natural iridescence of the silk is clearly visible in the “abrash”. Another peculiar feature of this piece is that some of the pomegranates are a yellow-gold colour, the symbolic significance of which is arcane and likely to be known only to the work’s creator.
Every element contributes to an overall sense of balanced and aristocratic, yet warm and confidential expressiveness: from the proportionate relationship between the motifs, to the large scale on which the plants and fruit are depicted; and from the tranquillity of the hues to the sobriety of the composition, which is crafted with simplicity, from a pattern that almost floats in an ethereal atmosphere of elegance.