Ottoman prayer rug, so called Pollak carpet, dated 1610/11 (reign of Sultan Ahmed (1603-1617)), Cairo or Istanbul. Berlin Museum, inv. no: 15-64. 122x183cm. Acquired in Rome, in 1915.

Erdmann's notes: The significance of this carpet has only recently ben noticed. In the richness of its drawing and the delicacy of its coloouring - the uniform field of the niche shows an olive-green of rare beauty - it is one of the best exanmples of the CAirene court manufactory which was established either Istanbul or Bursa at trhe end of the sixteenth century. It is of special interest because of  a chronogram which is knotted into its upper border shows the date ah 1019 (=1610/11 AD). This threfore is the only known, dated Ottoman carpet and consequently is important for the dating of the whole group.


Picture courtesy: John Taylor, rugtracker.com