Confronted Animal Rug

Confronted Animal Rug (Reconstruction of the 13/14th century (Seljuk (Anatolian Seljuks: 1077-1308) or Ilkhanid (1256-1335) Period animal motif rug, The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

CODE: CAMM14-3
Size (metric): 139x168cm
Size (ft): 4'6"x5'6"
Area: 2.33 m²
Density: 170 000 knots per square meter, totally ~400 000 knots
Weaving period: three months

Colors(7): madder red, light sky blue, medium blue, navy blue, yellow, natural ivory (undyed), natural brown (undyed).
Dyes: 100% natural dyes: madder, weld (Reseda Luteola), indigo, dyer's woad, pomegranate skins, walnut husks, natural brown sheep wool, natural ivory sheep wool - all are eco-friendly and non-toxic
Materials: Handcarded and handspun wool for pile, wool warps (natural ivory) and ivory wool wefts (two shots)

Weavers' name: Leyla & Zahra
Handwoven in Azerbaijan, signed

Design: With its highly geometricized design, this wool rug differs markedly from the refined courtly carpets, and represents an earlier tradition of weaving that was popular in Europe, where rugs like this are found in fourteenth- and fifteenth century churches and paintings. In fact, the depiction of some rugs with the similar animal design as this in the 14-century Sienese paintings allows for the dating of this example. This is one of only three complete rugs of such an early date and its design of large confronted animals, each with a smaller animal inside, probably derives from contemporary textiles.

Confronted Animal Rug, 13-14th Century. Late Seljuk (Anatolian Seljuks: 1077-1308), Ilkhanid (1256-1335) or Eldiguzids (Atabegs of Azerbaijan 1135-1225), Turkey or Caucasus. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The rug has been carbon 14 dated to 1040-1290 AD

Annunciation, Siena, ca. 1345, formerly in Schlossmuseum, Berlin

c. 1345. Abegg-Stiftung Collection, Riggisberg, Switzerland

Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints, ca. 1349